CALGARY, Alberta, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Alberta's oil and gas
royalty framework will remain in place until the end of 2016,
Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd said on Friday as she gave
details of the panel that will review the scheme for the
province's new left-leaning New Democrat government.
McCuaig-Boyd said royalty rates paid by oil and gas
companies will not change until 2017, which will help companies
budget for the important winter drilling season.
"That is to say, for 16 months companies and investors can
operate with certainty, knowing there will be no changes in the
royalty framework. If and when changes are made, any incremental
revenues will go to the (province's) heritage fund," she told a
news conference.