Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative

The Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative (FORRI) was established in 2005 to renew and modernize the regulatory framework governing Canada's frontier and offshore oil and gas sector. It is a partnership of federal, provincial, and territorial government departments and regulators that are involved in frontier and offshore regulatory issues.

Following discussions held on regulatory issues during the Atlantic Energy Roundtable in 2004, federal and provincial governments determined that opportunities existed to modernize the regulations governing frontier and offshore oil and gas activity in Canada. Governments agreed to apply the principles of “Goal-Oriented Regulation” in the frontier and offshore. This model provides flexibility for operators, where appropriate, in the means of achieving regulatory objectives. The model builds on experiences in other jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom and Norway, and is geared toward promoting innovation and enhancing the competitiveness of the regulatory regime.

FORRI was launched to oversee this process of modernization and regulatory change. Since its inception in January 2005, FORRI has become the chief vehicle for intergovernmental dialogue on frontier and offshore oil and gas regulatory policy.

By fostering innovation, regime competitiveness, effective regulation, and close cooperation among federal, provincial and territorial governments, the Frontier and Offshore Regulatory Renewal Initiative directly supports the Federal Government's Advantage Canada commitment to a new, modern approach to regulation.