Jurisdiction Over the Petroleum Resources of the Canadian Continental Shelf: The Emerging Picture

This paper assesses the effects of the Supreme Court of Canada's judgment in the Hibernia Reference on oil and gas activities on the Newfoundland shelf and other parts of the Canadian offshore. It also reviews other Canadian decisions respecting the off shore as well as legislative developments with respect to Canada's offshore. On February II, 1985, while this paper was in its final stages of publication. Prime Minister Mulroney and Premier Peckford signed the Atlantic Accord. To acknowledge this event, the author has added an Addendum to this paper, summarizing his initial impressions on the significance of the Accord in light of the Hibernia Reference. The Addendum was prepared one week after the Atlantic Accord was signed.