Rights Management

• Yukon's Oil and Gas Rights Disposition Process  
• Request for Posting (process, schedule, links to forms)
• Overlapping Requests
• Information Gathering (Best Management Practices Biophysical Information)
• Public Review and Government to Government Consultations
• Call for Bids (process, schedule, links to forms)

Yukon's Oil and Gas Rights Disposition Process

Under the Yukon's Oil and Gas Act ( 1.3 MB), rights to oil and gas are granted by the Minister through a disposition that takes the form of a permit or a lease. The disposition process begins when industry expresses an interest in a location through a request for posting. This is followed by a public review and government to government consultations on each posting request and ends with a call for bids. Dispositions are awarded on the sole criteria of highest (work or cash) bid.

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Request for Posting (process, schedule, links to forms)

Persons may express an interest in a location, through a request for posting. The Yukon Land Status Map with Oil and Gas Interests ( 1.04 MB) describes the areas throughout Yukon that are available for selection. The request for posting initiates the disposition process which includes a public review of the requested location, government to government consultations with affected First Nations and a competitive call for bids.

Yukon’s next disposition will be scheduled and posted here. This will include: 

• key dates;
• schedule for request for posting submissions;
• public reviews and government to government consultations; and
• schedule for call for bids submissions.
  

Yukon Oil and Gas Basin Map  288 KB Yukon Land Status Map with Oil and Gas Interests  1.04 MB Request for Posting and Call for Bid Documents (to come) Request for Posting and Call for Bid Schedule (to come) Yukon Resource Assessments

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Overlapping Requests

If requests for overlapping parcels are received, the Yukon government will examine the nature of the overlap(s) and resolve any conflicts prior to the parcels going to a call for bids. The Minister is not obligated to accept any or all request for postings submitted, or to proceed with a call for bids.

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Information Gathering

The Yukon government is working continuously with other government agencies, First Nation resource management boards and councils and stakeholders to gather and make available current and comprehensive regional information. This information will allow proponents and reviewers to identify issues and propose strategies to address concerns in a pre-project setting.

This information is displayed in the Biophysical Information page under the Oil and Gas Best Management Practices section of this site.

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Public Review and Government to Government Consultations

First Nation consultations and a public review only occur if a request for posting is received and the Minister accepts the request for posting.

The review period lasts a minimum of 60 days and involves government to government consultations with First Nations having traditional lands in the requested location(s), as well as input from stakeholders, the Yukon public and government departments.

Requested locations within the traditional territory of a First Nation without a land claims settlement may be accepted by Yukon government, however, these requests will not be included in a call for bids without the First Nations' consent. (Please see box below). The Yukon Land Status Map with Oil and Gas Interests ( 1.04 MB) shows the traditional territories of the Yukon First Nations that have not finalized their land claims agreements. These include the Liard First Nation, Ross River Dena Council and the White River First Nation.

• First Nation Traditional Territories Map  4.2 MB

Discussions with First Nations in Southeast Yukon  The Liard Plateau oil and gas region in southeast Yukon is located within the traditional territories of both Liard First Nation and Ross River Dena Council. The Yukon government has initiated discussions with both Yukon First Nations in an effort to open southeast Yukon for oil and gas exploration and development. Further consultations will occur with the Deh Cho of N.W.T. and the B.C. Kaska Nations. The Yukon Oil and Gas Act (Section 13) ( 1.3 MB) requires that the Yukon government obtain consent from Yukon First Nations who do not have final land claim agreements prior to the issuance of a new disposition on any locations within their traditional territory. Persons may request locations in southeast Yukon, however they should be aware that those requests may not be posted by the Yukon government pending the outcome of these discussions and the review process.

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Call For Bids

Following the public review and government to government consultations, the Oil and Gas Management branch will make recommendations to the Minister as to whether or not to proceed with each requested location and under what conditions. Persons will have 60 days to place bids. Examples of past call for bid documents.

How bids are awarded
Dispositions are awarded on the sole criteria of the highest (work or cash) bid. Oil and gas permits grant the rights to oil and gas for six to 10 year terms. The minimum amount of either a work commitment bid or a cash bid is $1,000,000.

In southeast Yukon, where there is a producing gas field and gas distribution infrastructure, the bid system is based on cash bids.

In the North Yukon and Whitehorse Trough regions the bid system is based on work commitment bid. The successful bidder makes a commitment to perform a stated amount of work during the term of the disposition. The company is required to deposit 25 per cent of the work commitment with the Yukon government when a disposition is issued. The work deposit is returned proportionately as the work is completed. Costs are based on Allowable Expenditures.

Beyond the disposition process
Although the disposition process grants rights to oil and gas, further authorizations are needed to undertake activity. Prior to any oil and gas exploration or development occurring, companies must obtain a license pursuant to the Yukon Oil and Gas Act ( 1.3 MB) and associated regulations. Licenses trigger a public environmental screening process under the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA). Companies are invited to examine Yukon’s Oil and Gas Best Management Practices before deciding on the type and timing of activities. Other licenses and permits such as a Land Use Permit or a Water Licence may also be required, depending on the nature and scope of the project  for activities in the Yukon.

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