Toronto Star – By the end of a 30-day consultation period in mid-March, the government is set to enshrine the 143,800 hectares of additional land for the Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland (KNW) in legislation, creating the largest boreal protected region in the world, which includes habitat for the wood bison and woodland caribou, both identified as species at risk. Approximately two-thirds of the extended wildland area comprises Crown mineral rights surrendered by Athabasca Oil Corporation.

“Oil and gas industry participants recognize the ecological and cultural significance of the area and came to the table with the contribution of significant lease land holdings,” said Rob Broen, president and CEO of Athabasca Oil. He, like Powder, joined the announcement virtually. Powder acknowledged that Athabasca Oil along with Cenovus Energy, Imperial Oil, Teck Resources, Suncor, Northland Forest Products and Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries collaborated by giving up their interests in the area.