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How much of the oil sands area is being developed? 
Does oil sands 'mining' affect the environment? 
How can I find out about employment in Alberta’s oil sands industry?

How much of the oil sands area is being developed?

As of December 2007, there were approximately 4,264 oil sands agreements within the province, totalling 64,919 square kilometres. 

Does oil sands 'mining' affect the environment?

A large part of mining operations involves clearing trees and brush from a site and removing the overburden - the topsoil, muskeg, sand, clay and gravel - that sits atop the oil sands deposit. The topsoil and muskeg are stockpiled so they can be replaced as sections of the mined-out area are reclaimed; the rest of the overburden is used to reconstruct the landscape when mining is completed.

Developers are required to restore oil sands mining sites to at least the equivalent of their previous biological productivity, which means the region as a whole forms an ecosystem landscape at least as healthy and productive as that which existed before development.

Oil sands operations emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas (GHG), which is considered a contributor to climate change. Oil sands developers have been actively working towards reducing CO₂ emissions by 45 per cent per barrel by 2010, compared to 1990 levels.

More information about climate change is available on Alberta Environment's website.

How can I find out about employment in Alberta’s oil sands industry?

There are numerous opportunities in the oil sands industry.  You should contact the individual companies with projects in the oil sands or visit their respective web sites for information regarding potential positions.

Fort McMurray labour market news provides links for opportunities in the oil sands and northern Alberta at: http://www.woodbuffalo.net/.

For information on training, apprenticeship and employment in trades in Alberta, you may wish to see the Government of Alberta web site, http://www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca/.

For potential employment in the Alberta public service, you should see the website of the Personnel Administration Office at: http://www.pao.gov.ab.ca/.