IN THE PRESS

• Alberta drilling rights auctions fall to record low
  Globalnews.ca. December 19, 2019. Story here.
• Alberta Gov. is taking steps to streamline rules for oil well service rigs
  LacombeOnline.com. December 21, 2019. Story here.
• ​Alberta extending 'red tape reduction' to service rig support vehicles
  JWN. December 23, 2019. Story here.
• ​Province says 118 drilling rigs added last week is 'good news' for oil and gas
  CTV News. January 14, 2020. Story here.
• ​Ensign, Precision, Nabors, Akita delist rigs
  Pipeline News. January 14, 2020. Story here.

THE HITCH

• Pick up The Hitch: In addition to member copies that get mailed out, you can pick up copies of The Hitch at the Leduc #1 Energy Discovery Centre, Wellsite Masters Ltd., MAS-Pro Supply (Red Deer and Grande Prairie), here at the CAODC office or read it online here. 
• Back issues of The Hitch: Click here for access to full issues going back to 2008.
• Advertise: Consider running an ad in The Hitch and the Hitch blog. We also encourage members to consider running an advertorial or sponsoring a Hitch Report product review for The Hitch. Advertising revenue helps support Association activities throughout the year. Please contact Nancie Prive, marketing coordinator at Media Edge at nanciep@mediaedgepublishing.com, for more information.
• We Need You! We at The Hitch are always looking for story ideas and photos. Consider submitting yours to communications@caodc.ca.
• Social Media: We want to hear from you! Join our conversations on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin. 

NEW EVENTS / ITEMS

• CAODC Board Nominations
  Nominations for the Association’s Board of Directors will open on January 15, 2020 at 8:00 am MST. There are two (2) Land Drilling Contractor Member positions and two (2) Service Rig Contractor Member positions open for election. The elections are scheduled to coincide with the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, March 27, 2020. Your primary company representative will be receiving an email with more information about the criteria and nomination process. The nomination form can be downloaded here. For more information contact mscholz@caodc.ca. 
• 2020 Rig Inventory & Directory
  Production on our 2020 Rig Inventory & Directory is almost done and copies will be mailed out to CAODC members in late January. If you'd like to purchase additional copies, they are $50/ea and available by contacting communications@caodc.ca. 
• Potential Speaker Series Topics
  We're looking for keynote speaker suggestions for upcoming Speaker Series events. To pitch your idea for a great speaker, drop us a note at communications@caodc.ca.
• Correct your taxes with the Voluntary Disclosures Program (Canada Revenue Agency) 
  The Voluntary Disclosures Program (VDP) gives you a chance to correct inaccurate or incomplete information, disclose information not reported in a tax return you previously filed, or file a return that you should have filed. If you file a VDP application and it is accepted by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), you will have to pay the taxes owing, plus any applicable interest. However, you will also be eligible for relief from prosecution and, in some cases, from penalties and some of the interest that you would otherwise be required to pay. For more information on this program, click here. 
• Get More Out of Your Membership
  The CAODC offers a wide array of platforms for the targeted exposure of your product or service. CAODC sponsorship is a cost-effective way to get your message in front of key decision makers inside the industry. Find out more here.
• Get More Out of Your Membership 
  For $150, you can get your company’s logo placed above your member listing information on our website…PLUS you’ll get a free logo enhancement for the print edition of our 2020 Rig Directory at the end of the year! Contact communications@caodc.ca for more information on this two-for-one offer.

FEATURED ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

• Clay’s Industrial Supply Ltd.
  Clay’s Industrial Supply Ltd. opened its doors in March of 2002. From the beginning, the company’s vision is to provide customers with the very best, “NEW” quality products and equipment for the service rig industry. Most importantly to build a relationship based on trust, honesty, and friendship between our customers and us. 
  www.clays.ca
• IFR Workwear Inc.
  IFR is an Indigenous owned company founded in 2005 in Red Deer, Alberta by Reg Radford and Erin Buckland. They manufacture high-quality, trusted products. Offering their customers comprehensive options for safety and comfort, through their full line of protective workwear which includes coveralls, insulated coveralls, parkas, insulated bib overalls, fleecewear, vests, headwear, hard hat liners and more, for industries including oil and gas, petrochemical, mining, electrical, construction, railroad and others! All of their products are manufactured in North America and sold through distribution partners across Canada and parts of the USA. 
  www.ifrworkwear.ca
• Tri-Service Oilfield Manufacturing Ltd.
  TSM drilling equipment solutions range from simple component design, manufacture and repair right through to turnkey drilling systems and lifecycle management. From conventional mechanical equipment to the latest, purpose-built automated systems, they can provide simple component design, manufacture and repair all the way through to complete turnkey drilling systems.  
  triservice.com
• Lea-der Coatings
  In the energy sector, specific problems need custom solutions. Lea-der Coatings’ state-of-the-art manufacturing facility means their customers can order exactly what they need and they can build it exactly the way their clients want it. Problem Solved. Their customers’ requests have resulted in a large range of products designed specifically for environmental, drilling equipment and rig worker safety. Their one-stop shop makes it easy to supply everything for human safety, environmental protection, rig operation tools, fire suppression, noise reduction, equipment tarps and covers. 
  www.lea-der.com

BULLETINS / MEMOS

• Transportation Memorandum of Agreement (Alberta Government)
  The CAODC entered into a new Transportation Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Alberta Government. The permit is identified as the Alberta Oil & Gas Service Rig Permit. The new Alberta MOA reduces red tape and unnecessary regulations for service rig members operating in the province of Alberta. An FAQ document is available on our Bulletins page here (login required) to educate members on the changes that took effect on January 1, 2020. It is strongly encouraged that you carefully read the document and the new MOA conditions available here (login required) to ensure your company complies with the new rules.
• General Information Bulletin: G-20-03 (CAODC Incident Statistics Program)
  The Health & Safety Committee recognized the need to revise the CAODC Injury Classifications. A steering committee was struck in the fall of 2018 and through the work of the steering committee, a new Incident Statistics Program (ISP) was developed. For a copy of the new CAODC Incident Statistics Program, click here. For a copy of the new CAODC Injury Classification Decision Tree, click here. The complete bulletin can be found here (login may be required).
• General Information Bulletin: G-19-09 (Alberta Government Health and Safety Committee Changes)
  On December 13, 2019, the Alberta Government announced changes to the requirements for Health and Safety Committees (HSC’s) and Representatives (HS representatives). Key changes:
  - Employer-based rather than site-based requirements for HSC’s and HS representatives.
  - Eliminating the Part 1 prerequisite HSC/HS representative training. The change is effective immediately.
  Please refer to General Information Bulletin G-19-09 for further information. To access a copy of this bulletin click here (login may be required).
• General Information Bulletin: G-19-07 (IRP 15: Snubbing Operations)
  A limited scope review of IRP 15: Snubbing Operations has been completed and posted for a second industry review. The review period closes on January 17, 2019. Please refer to General Information Bulletin G-19-07 for further information. To access a copy of this bulletin click here (note that the file is a download.
• General Information Bulletin: G-19-06 (MELT Alberta Job Grant)
  The purpose of this bulletin is to inform members that the Mandatory Entry Level Training (M.E.L.T.) qualifies for the Alberta Job Grant program. Under the program, eligible employers can be reimbursed for up to two thirds of current employee training costs up to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee per fiscal year. If hiring and training an unemployed Albertan, up to 100% of the training costs could be covered, up to $15,000 per trainee. Please refer to General Information Bulletin G-19-06 for further information. To access a copy of this bulletin click here.

CONFERENCES / COURSES / MEETINGS