The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to ensuring that Indigenous communities and businesses are provided meaningful opportunities to participate in the ASCP. To deliver on its commitment, the Government of Saskatchewan is introducing the First Nations Stewardship Fund and the Indigenous Business Credit Pool. These two initiatives will direct up to $50M of ASCP funding to support First Nations and Métis participation in the program.
The First Nations Stewardship Fund will allocate up to $20M in program funding to conduct abandonment and reclamation activities in First Nations communities across Saskatchewan. Eligible licensees with oil and gas sites on-Reserve will be able to access the First Nations Stewardship Fund. Eligible licensees were asked to nominate sites for consideration under the Stewardship Fund. Licensees will engage with First Nations communities in the development of work packages under the Stewardship Fund.
View the current list of First Nations Stewardship Fund allocations to licensees operating in First Nations communities.
The Indigenous Business Credit Pool will create additional opportunities for ASCP licensees and contractors to engage and develop meaningful relationships with eligible First Nations and Métis major and minor contractors. Eligible licensees that utilize eligible First Nations and Métis major and minor contractors will earn access to additional ASCP funding for future use. The Indigenous Business Credit Pool will make an additional $15M in ASCP funding available to participating licensees. If fully utilized, the Indigenous Business Credit Pool will support a $30M spend on eligible First Nations and Métis contractors.
View the current list of Indigenous Business Credit Pool allocations to eligible licensees. Please note that licensees that do not qualify for an allocation are able to apply to the SRC for access to the remaining $1.5M in Credit Pool funding.
To support these initiatives, the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence (COE). The COE will work with the SRC, licensees, oil and gas service companies, and First Nations communities to administer the First Nations Stewardship Fund and the Indigenous Business Credit Pool.
For more detailed information and how to apply, please review the Questions and Answers document that can be found at the bottom of this page.
Eligible Indigenous service companies
All existing pre-qualified Indigenous major contractors are asked to register in the COE EXPORT database. Net-new applicants to the program – whether standalone or as part of a Joint Venture – will need to first complete the RFSQ process with the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement. Indigenous minor contractors do not need to pre-qualify through the RFSQ process and are asked to register in the EXPORT database only.
As part of the registration, major and minor contractors will be required to complete a declaration attesting to meeting the program definition of an Indigenous contractor. Providing false information in the declaration will result in removal from the ASCP entirely. The COE will conduct the verification process to ensure that eligible Indigenous service companies meet the program definition.
The program will use the EXPORT database to compile an inventory of eligible First Nations and Métis major and minor contractors for program use. To view a current list of ASCP eligible First Nations and Métis major and minor contractors, please visit the COE's Export Database at www.exportdata.ca/ascp. Click on the green button on the right-hand side of the landing page titled "ASCP Eligible Indigenous Major/Minor Contractor Listing" to download a PDF containing an up to date list of fully eligible Indigenous major and minor contractors.