Taxation of oil and gas revenues: Canada

The policy of Canadianization must be included in any analysis of energy taxation in Canada, where energy resources are unevenly divided among the provinces. The provinces own most natural resources, but the oil and gas industry is dominated by foreign ownership and control. The Federal National Energy Program (NEP) of 1980 target of 50% Canadian ownership by 1990 conflicts with provincial practices by shifting incentives from depletion allowance to ownership grants for buy backs. The NEP compares unfavorably with US taxation, and that, combined with US deregulation, has shifted drilling activity to the US. The controversial tax elements do compare with those of the United Kingdom and other North Sea producers. Although recent controversy has caused investors to defer projects, Canadian investment is competitive with most countries. 5 references, 1 table. (DCK)