The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia announced they intend to work together to establish a regular, predictable offshore call for bids schedule that supports investment at scale.

Both jurisdictions are “moving forward in full alignment to position Canada as a global energy superpower,” says a market update document released Sunday, and signed by Tim Hodgson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and N.S. Premier Tim Houston.

The Canada–Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) has launched a Call for Bids (NS25-1P), covering 13 parcels in and around the Sable Island area and the adjacent slope.

The first call is open until April 28, 2026, but this is not a one-off opportunity, say Hodgson and Houston.

“It is the first in what will be a sustained series of calls, backed by a co-ordinated, whole-of-government approach,” the letter says.

“This level of alignment is deliberate. Both governments are all-in on building a globally competitive offshore energy industry and are jointly committed to providing the policy certainty, regulatory clarity, and long-term stability that major projects require.

“Our objective is to build an integrated offshore energy industry that leverages our significant oil and gas resource base, builds on decades of offshore expertise and grows alongside our emerging offshore wind sector.”

This approach, the letter says, will drive infrastructure investment, expand and strengthen the supply chain, and position Nova Scotia as a strategic energy hub serving domestic and international markets.

This work is being advanced through active and ongoing federal–provincial co-ordination.

“The Regional Assessment, expected to be completed in late 2026, is a key example designed to streamline environmental approvals, reduce duplication and materially improve regulatory timelines. The signal to industry is clear: Governments are aligned, the framework is being put in place, and the basin is opening.”

The letter says opportunities to secure high-potential acreage in stable, OECD jurisdictions with this level of government alignment are increasingly rare.

“Those who move early will be best positioned to establish a strategic foothold, shape the development of the basin, and capture long-term value as this industry scales. With proximity to key global markets, rising demand for secure and responsibly produced energy, and a unified federal–provincial commitment, Nova Scotia offers a stable, competitive and forward-looking investment environment.”

N.S.’s offshore has an estimated 47–148 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas and 19–49 billion bbls of oil in place, estimated from peer reviewed work, the letter says.

This opportunity can be further evaluated through an Offshore Data Room, which provides access to an extensive geoscience database.