Compensation through the Mineral Rights Compensation Regulation (MRCR)The paragraph below was taken from an article published by ABlawg.ca (Nigel Bankes) - May 18, 2011. The article is titled "Compensation for cancelled oil sands rights under the terms of the draft Lower Athabasca Regional Plan".
"The MRCR lays out the terms on which the Crown will compensate a mineral owner for a cancelled interest. The regulations are complex, but for present purposes it is perhaps adequate to say that the regulations compensate the owner of a crown mineral interest on the basis of monies spent rather than the value that might be placed on the crown mineral rights in a market transaction between a willing seller and a willing buyer. The elements of compensation include compensation for the acquisition and maintenance cost of the interest (bonus payment and rental), a development allowance (monies spent in exploring for or developing minerals in the location), a reclamation allowance and an interest allowance".
SO IN MY OPINION THIS IS HUGE FOR AOS. THEY WILL BE REIMBURSED THE COST OF THE ACQUISITON OF CLEARWATER, AND THEIR EXPLORATION COSTS. SURE THEY LOSE AN OIL SAND LEASE BUT THE CASH THAT FLOWS BACK TO THE COMPANY CAN BE USED ELSEWHERE eg.) (ALGAR LAKE, AFRICAN RIFT DEPOSITS OR FUTURE ACQUISITIONS). I CAN SEE WHY MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN BUYING SHARES IN THE PUBLIC MARKET./ok2