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Facing the prospect of another dismal year in 2020, Canada’s hard-hit drilling sector has asked the UCP government to look at new incentives to stimulate additional work in the oilpatch.

And speaking at a luncheon of the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC), Premier Jason Kenney said a number of ideas are being considered to keep the sector working.

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The province is “listening to the industry on what we can do to stimulate job-creating activity. CAODC and others have recommended, for example, a potential royalty holiday on new drilling activity,” Kenney told the crowd.

“Such concepts are under active consideration.”

The suggestion comes as the association, which represents the country’s drilling and well-servicing companies, released a new forecast of activity levels in 2020, projecting another difficult year for the sector.

The group expects 4,905 wells will be drilled across the country next year, up only nine wells from this year’s tepid levels.