The unpaid bills of Alberta oil and gas companies, explained

When Alberta oil and gas companies stop paying their bills, rural communities absorb the costs. Drew Anderson’s explainer breaks down the numbers: $254 million in unpaid municipal taxes, $150 million paid by government to landowners (with less than 1% recovered from delinquent companies), and cleanup liabilities ranging from $100 billion to $260 billion.

The pattern is consistent across all three crisis areas. Companies default on surface lease payments to landowners, who then petition the Land and Property Rights Tribunal for government reimbursement. Municipalities write off $200 million in uncollectible property taxes and raise rates on residents to compensate. And regulators collect security deposits representing just 0.3% to 10% of environmental liabilities — percentages that reveal a system designed to enable corporate abandonment.

Read Drew Anderson’s full explainer at The Narwhal → for the complete breakdown of surface lease mechanics, government reimbursement processes, municipal enforcement gaps, and cleanup cost estimates.

Take Action

1. Support The Narwhal’s journalism - This reporting amplifies landowner voices
2. Write your MLA - Demand adequate security deposits and accountability
3. Contact us - If you’re a landowner dealing with unpaid leases or abandoned wells