Drew Yewchuk
@drewyewchuk.bsky.social
Phd student researching government information management, public interest lawyer, advocate for access to government information laws, cold war history enthusiast.
Starting October 23, 2025, the AER dashboard shows another 21 companies not in compliance with the 2024 Annual Mandatory Closure Spend Quotas, but bizarrely marks each administrative sanction one day ahead, so they extend out to mid-November. (1/2)
October 30, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Starting October 23, 2025, the AER dashboard shows another 21 companies not in compliance with the 2024 Annual Mandatory Closure Spend Quotas, but bizarrely marks each administrative sanction one day ahead, so they extend out to mid-November. (1/2)
"51" of mystery hydrocarbon just came out of nowhere and spilled into an environment where nothing lived.
August 14, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"51" of mystery hydrocarbon just came out of nowhere and spilled into an environment where nothing lived.
51 whats? Also, good thing nothing lives in creeks, I guess. The AER compliance dashboard is a joke.
August 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
51 whats? Also, good thing nothing lives in creeks, I guess. The AER compliance dashboard is a joke.
A new contender for funniest page I've received in an Access to Information release.
July 8, 2025 at 3:27 AM
A new contender for funniest page I've received in an Access to Information release.
Reading this stuff and experiencing total destruction to my mind.
The federal government does not want to destroy Alberta oil and gas and they have never tried. The belief the federal government is trying to crush Alberta oil and gas is an irrational lie. If you believe it, you are getting scammed.
The federal government does not want to destroy Alberta oil and gas and they have never tried. The belief the federal government is trying to crush Alberta oil and gas is an irrational lie. If you believe it, you are getting scammed.
June 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reading this stuff and experiencing total destruction to my mind.
The federal government does not want to destroy Alberta oil and gas and they have never tried. The belief the federal government is trying to crush Alberta oil and gas is an irrational lie. If you believe it, you are getting scammed.
The federal government does not want to destroy Alberta oil and gas and they have never tried. The belief the federal government is trying to crush Alberta oil and gas is an irrational lie. If you believe it, you are getting scammed.
Alberta will contribute to reducing emissions by accelerating drilling.
www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?...
www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?...
June 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Alberta will contribute to reducing emissions by accelerating drilling.
www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?...
www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?...
The Northback (formerly Benga) federal court of appeal litigation regarding the Grassy Mountain mine rejection has been adjourned until at least October 15, 2025.
(Federal Court file A-98-24).
(Federal Court file A-98-24).
May 6, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The Northback (formerly Benga) federal court of appeal litigation regarding the Grassy Mountain mine rejection has been adjourned until at least October 15, 2025.
(Federal Court file A-98-24).
(Federal Court file A-98-24).
This is a recent Species at Risk Permit that sounds comically optimistic:
"Staff will use a helicopter to gently herd the Ronald Lake bison back to their traditional home range."
Perhaps it worked, but I doubt the helicopter worked 'gently'.
"Staff will use a helicopter to gently herd the Ronald Lake bison back to their traditional home range."
Perhaps it worked, but I doubt the helicopter worked 'gently'.
April 28, 2025 at 11:45 PM
This is a recent Species at Risk Permit that sounds comically optimistic:
"Staff will use a helicopter to gently herd the Ronald Lake bison back to their traditional home range."
Perhaps it worked, but I doubt the helicopter worked 'gently'.
"Staff will use a helicopter to gently herd the Ronald Lake bison back to their traditional home range."
Perhaps it worked, but I doubt the helicopter worked 'gently'.
They fixed it! Both events occurred in 2024. Some details would be nice (the AER's policy of withholding all details on ongoing investigations is not necessary or rational), but at least the dates now make sense.
April 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
They fixed it! Both events occurred in 2024. Some details would be nice (the AER's policy of withholding all details on ongoing investigations is not necessary or rational), but at least the dates now make sense.
The Alberta Energy Regulator's Compliance dashboard (investigations tab) shows two investigations of future oilsands incidents that will occur later this year. This is hilarious carelessness in providing the public important information. (1/2)
April 16, 2025 at 2:20 PM
The Alberta Energy Regulator's Compliance dashboard (investigations tab) shows two investigations of future oilsands incidents that will occur later this year. This is hilarious carelessness in providing the public important information. (1/2)
Another problem at an Imperial oilsands mine marked on the AER compliance dashboard.
17,665 m3 of partially treated water released into the Muskeg River.
(I believe BOD is biochemical oxygen demand) - I have no information about this except what is on the dashboard.
17,665 m3 of partially treated water released into the Muskeg River.
(I believe BOD is biochemical oxygen demand) - I have no information about this except what is on the dashboard.
April 8, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Another problem at an Imperial oilsands mine marked on the AER compliance dashboard.
17,665 m3 of partially treated water released into the Muskeg River.
(I believe BOD is biochemical oxygen demand) - I have no information about this except what is on the dashboard.
17,665 m3 of partially treated water released into the Muskeg River.
(I believe BOD is biochemical oxygen demand) - I have no information about this except what is on the dashboard.
From Minister Jean (page RS-375).
Jean appears to be talking about ICORE, the AER project to spread AER-style regulators around the world like a fungus. But that was revealed to be a poorly run scam to misappropriate funds in 2018. So what is he talking about?
Jean appears to be talking about ICORE, the AER project to spread AER-style regulators around the world like a fungus. But that was revealed to be a poorly run scam to misappropriate funds in 2018. So what is he talking about?
April 2, 2025 at 4:34 PM
From Minister Jean (page RS-375).
Jean appears to be talking about ICORE, the AER project to spread AER-style regulators around the world like a fungus. But that was revealed to be a poorly run scam to misappropriate funds in 2018. So what is he talking about?
Jean appears to be talking about ICORE, the AER project to spread AER-style regulators around the world like a fungus. But that was revealed to be a poorly run scam to misappropriate funds in 2018. So what is he talking about?
The decision came from the top (the CEO & COO) and the AER closure liability team was confused, since the forecasted future spends were requested by industry for planning purposes. No further explanation is in the documents.(2/2)
April 1, 2025 at 3:38 AM
The decision came from the top (the CEO & COO) and the AER closure liability team was confused, since the forecasted future spends were requested by industry for planning purposes. No further explanation is in the documents.(2/2)
I got FOI records back in October 2023 about the changes to the AER's mandatory spend. The OIPC appeal process just concluded, and I did get a bit more. For instance, the explanation forecasted future year mandatory spends were removed so the AER would not be held to them in the future. (1/2)
April 1, 2025 at 3:28 AM
I got FOI records back in October 2023 about the changes to the AER's mandatory spend. The OIPC appeal process just concluded, and I did get a bit more. For instance, the explanation forecasted future year mandatory spends were removed so the AER would not be held to them in the future. (1/2)
Long Run Exploration's initial restructuring and sale plan collapsed, and the company has moved into a bankruptcy with PriceWaterhouseCoopers as receiver.
t.co/M6bFfXGkAu
Screenshot from a February 2025 affidavit in the bankruptcy process.
t.co/M6bFfXGkAu
Screenshot from a February 2025 affidavit in the bankruptcy process.
March 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Long Run Exploration's initial restructuring and sale plan collapsed, and the company has moved into a bankruptcy with PriceWaterhouseCoopers as receiver.
t.co/M6bFfXGkAu
Screenshot from a February 2025 affidavit in the bankruptcy process.
t.co/M6bFfXGkAu
Screenshot from a February 2025 affidavit in the bankruptcy process.
I briefly thought, based on the way things have been going lately, that the second point in today's Alberta government news was an announcement Smith was invading Iraq. No - it's just a trade mission.
February 21, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I briefly thought, based on the way things have been going lately, that the second point in today's Alberta government news was an announcement Smith was invading Iraq. No - it's just a trade mission.
AER compliance dashboard shows a new contravention by Imperial Oil today, but it has data entry errors: the dashboard says it occurred in November 2025 (which is in the future) and assigns it a 2024 reference number.
So even less information than usual...
So even less information than usual...
February 12, 2025 at 4:59 PM
AER compliance dashboard shows a new contravention by Imperial Oil today, but it has data entry errors: the dashboard says it occurred in November 2025 (which is in the future) and assigns it a 2024 reference number.
So even less information than usual...
So even less information than usual...
This statement from the AER is bad news. The goal of the closure spend requirement is only to eventually stop the growth of the problem. Forget solving the problem, they are still working on eventually stopping it from getting worse.
static.aer.ca/prd/document...
static.aer.ca/prd/document...
February 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
This statement from the AER is bad news. The goal of the closure spend requirement is only to eventually stop the growth of the problem. Forget solving the problem, they are still working on eventually stopping it from getting worse.
static.aer.ca/prd/document...
static.aer.ca/prd/document...
Trying to figure out what a tariff war would mean for the Alberta orphan and inactive well issue, but I can't figure out anything except the obvious: it would quickly cause a huge mess because the system isn't even stable enough to withstand a light breeze.
February 1, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Trying to figure out what a tariff war would mean for the Alberta orphan and inactive well issue, but I can't figure out anything except the obvious: it would quickly cause a huge mess because the system isn't even stable enough to withstand a light breeze.
Alberta. Alberta never changes.
Part 1 of the 1976 Environment Conservation Authority report on coal activities. (1/3)
Part 1 of the 1976 Environment Conservation Authority report on coal activities. (1/3)
January 24, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Alberta. Alberta never changes.
Part 1 of the 1976 Environment Conservation Authority report on coal activities. (1/3)
Part 1 of the 1976 Environment Conservation Authority report on coal activities. (1/3)
This is what I wrote about the coal issue in March 2022. The government had plenty of time and opportunity to learn and they did not.
If the government were making new mistakes that might be forgivable, but this is the same mistake repeatedly.
If the government were making new mistakes that might be forgivable, but this is the same mistake repeatedly.
January 22, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This is what I wrote about the coal issue in March 2022. The government had plenty of time and opportunity to learn and they did not.
If the government were making new mistakes that might be forgivable, but this is the same mistake repeatedly.
If the government were making new mistakes that might be forgivable, but this is the same mistake repeatedly.
The Orphan Well Association is required by regulation to annually produce three-year budget documents.
The AER used to provide full copies, but this year the AER is withholding the anticipated future levies until March. (Pictures are last year's and this year's OWA forward budgets).
The AER used to provide full copies, but this year the AER is withholding the anticipated future levies until March. (Pictures are last year's and this year's OWA forward budgets).
January 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The Orphan Well Association is required by regulation to annually produce three-year budget documents.
The AER used to provide full copies, but this year the AER is withholding the anticipated future levies until March. (Pictures are last year's and this year's OWA forward budgets).
The AER used to provide full copies, but this year the AER is withholding the anticipated future levies until March. (Pictures are last year's and this year's OWA forward budgets).
Thanks to the AER's new (or improved?) system of licensee inventory reporting, we do get a decent view of the size of the liabilities at play (as long as we ignore the estimated dollar cost, which the AER knows is too low but has not yet fixed.)
www2.aer.ca/t/Production...
www2.aer.ca/t/Production...
January 7, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Thanks to the AER's new (or improved?) system of licensee inventory reporting, we do get a decent view of the size of the liabilities at play (as long as we ignore the estimated dollar cost, which the AER knows is too low but has not yet fixed.)
www2.aer.ca/t/Production...
www2.aer.ca/t/Production...