The governments of Saskatchewan and Alberta, along with industry stakeholders, say they have secured a regulation exemption from Ottawa that will now allow oil service rigs to move freely between the two provinces. 

On June 5, 2019, the premiers of Saskatchewan and Alberta signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help remove provincial barriers to the movement of service rigs.

Since the signing, the two have been urging the federal government to exempt rigs from regulations under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act that prevent vehicles and equipment from moving quickly between job sites within the two provinces. 

“This is long overdue,” Premier Scott Moe said. “Western Canadian Energy is not only among the most sustainable in the world, but also among the safest. We should be removing redundant red tape and barriers that impede opportunity for growth.” 

"Today, common sense has prevailed," Canadian Association of Energy Contractors President and CEO Mark A. Scholz said. "We are delighted to see this much anticipated regulatory reform pass the finish line. It means that our workers can focus on what matters most, developing the world's most responsible energy, while at the same time meeting the highest standards in road safety."

Under the act exemption, service rig convoys will not be required to complete daily logs or have a certified electronic logging device.

The Government of Saskatchewan said in a release, “Service rigs will continue to have robust safety checks in place, such as the need to have valid permits, regular inspections and to comply with all Occupational Health and Safety requirements.”