RECOMMENDATION 1

The committee does not recommend banning current offshore drilling either permanently or temporarily while Canada’s government regulators re-evaluate the regulatory regime, safety measures and contingency plans in light of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

RECOMMENDATION 2

The committee recommends exploring in greater detail the structure and role of the offshore petroleum Boards to determine whether there may be in fact a material conflict between regulatory roles. 

RECOMMENDATION 3

The committee recommends a thorough discussion by regulators and industry respecting whether and under what circumstances relief wells should be prescribed.  As was the case in the Gulf of Mexico, a relief well can take several months to complete; therefore, it follows that current US relief well drilling requirements appear to be inadequate to maximize oil slick containment and minimize environmental damage.  As well, drilling two exploratory wells instead of one may inadvertently increase the likelihood of a blowout.

RECOMMENDATION 4

The committee recommends that there be greater collaboration between all those responsible for responding to an oil spill in developing, preparing and practicing in advance of an event.

RECOMMENDATION 5

The committee recommends that all offshore operators be required to organize Tier Three spill response tabletop drills at regular intervals.

RECOMMENDATION 6

The committee recommends a comprehensive review of the issue of liability, including whether the thresholds should be adjusted to reflect current economic realities.