The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Nov. 10, edition that Ottawa is mulling lifting its moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration in the Western Arctic, challenging a decade-old policy aimed at protecting the region's marine ecosystem. The Globe's Aya Dufour writes that the fall budget includes increased funding for Arctic offshore oil and gas governance. The federal government's budget, released last week, earmarked $1-million in 2027-28 for oversight of fossil fuel exploration in the region, an amount that jumps to $3-million the next year. The Northwest Territories has been urging Ottawa to revisit its policy for years to regain control over land and waters, with Nunavut recently joining the call. "This line in the budget is the biggest update I've had in a while," says Northwest Territories Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek. She says lifting the ban wouldn't "necessarily equate to immediate development of any one kind or another." But she adds, it would signal Ottawa is willing to fulfill a longstanding commitment for self-governance of natural resources in the north. The offshore drilling moratorium is reviewed by Ottawa every five years, with the current ban set to expire in 2028.