Recent Developments in the Federal-Provincial Dispute Concerning Jurisdiction over Offshore Petroleum Resources

Great uncertainty surrounds the question of jurisdiction over natural resources in the offshore regions in Canada and this problem has become acute in recent years with the discovery of petroleum off the Canadian East coast. The author explains the roots and reaches of the dispute in light of both Canadian and American jurisprudence. The positions of the Federal govern ment and the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are explored together with the current working agreements these governments have reached on the political level Finally, recent cases are analyzed and the author outlines what future developments to look for in the area