Early 2000: Concerns raised in Energy Department about government's take with higher petroleum prices. Series of internal presentations by oil business unit don't conclude changes to royalties are necessary, but recommend "further investigation of rent share in the high commodity price environment."

Prices begin to exceed royalty caps, meaning at a certain point, the government's share falls as prices rise.

High oil prices, higher operating and capital costs, and federal and provincial tax changes prompt department's oil business unit to repeat its royalty review.

It concludes that removing the caps and implementing a higher marginal rate on the oil royalty rates is not required at the time.

Early 2004: Department of Energy's annual report says a royalty review was completed and that Alberta's royalty regimes "successfully encourage continued development while collecting a fair share of resource development profits."

However, no detailed internal report supports this assertion in the annual report, auditor general finds.

For oilsands royalty, the review also suggests government look at adjusting net royalty rates at high prices, simplify the regime, and expand the royalty collection options.

November 2005: Internal review comes to the same conclusions as one conducted in 2004, suggesting government consider increasing royalties for oil, natural gas and the oilsands.

Key documents from the 2005 departmental review find that an "Executive Committee Decision Request" discussed a Sustainability Levy with higher royalty rates, "credits for qualifying strategic value creation investments", as well as the beginning of an initiative to create an "integrated framework" for energy development in Alberta.

The "Request" indicates that the "minister (Greg Melchin) decided not to go forward."

January 2006: A reworked version of the 2005 royalty review concludes government should:

- Adjust oil and gas royalty rates at higher prices or introduce new vintages;

- Terminate the current Deep Gas Royalty Holiday program and consider a more focused program; and

- Eliminate the Alberta Royalty Tax Credit.

The conclusions for the deep gas holiday and royalty tax credit were implemented. The other conclusions were not.

March 2006: A followup document to the 2005 review estimates the "absolute minimum" that Alberta could increase its share on natural gas alone is $1 billion to $2 billion annually at prices above $5/(thousand cubic feet)".

August 2006: Melchin makes a presentation to a government standing policy committee. The information "suggests the need to increase Alberta's share although that conclusion is not explicitly stated."