EDMONTON - The growth of Alberta's energy sector over the next couple of years will be hanging in the balance as the province announces royalty changes today.
Energy Minister Ron Liepert will wait until after the stock markets close to announce the changes.
Alberta's Tory government is trying to lure back energy investment that fled the province in the wake of unpopular royalty increases in January 2009.
Recent auctions for drilling rights in Alberta have shown strong results, partly as the result of new interest in shale gas exploration.
Wednesday's auction brought in $167 million, far less than some experts were anticipating, but still the fourth highest in more than a decade.
Liepert told the legislature this week that he expects the royalty changes being announced will be well received by the energy industry.