Following some two-years of negotiation, an exemption from Ottawa will allow for the free movement of service oil rigs between Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Premiers Jason Kenney of Alberta and Scott Moe of Saskatchewan made the announcement in Lloydminster on Wednesday at the Heavy Oil Show. The federal government exemption applies to the movement of service rigs not just across the Alberta-Saskatchewan border but also for B.C. and Manitoba jurisdictions.
In June, 2019, the premiers had signed a memorandum of understanding to remove provincial barriers and harmonize the movement of service rigs. The new provision allows an exemption from the Motor Vehicle Transport Act.
The premiers agreed that the freer movement of the equipment between provinces would increase the efficiency of this aspect of the industry.