Global energy bosses, who dislike uncertainty about as much as they dislike low oil prices, are leery of B.C.'s land-claims situation.

The province is one of the globe's most uninviting locations when it comes to disputed land claims, according to a Fraser Institute survey released Monday.

"British Columbia has the dubious distinction of ranking among the least attractive jurisdictions in the world in terms of land-claims issues," said Gerry Angevine, institute economist and co-author of the annual global petroleum survey.

In terms of disputed land claims, B.C. ranked fourth from the bottom of 136 jurisdictions in the survey. Only Iraq, Bolivia and the Northwest Territories are more poorly regarded by the energy executives and managers who took part in the survey.

Land-claims disputes "are a significant barrier to investment in Iraq and British Columbia, both of which also ranked in the fifth quintile on this question," the Vancouver-based think-tank added.

In its overall ranking among the provinces and territories, B.C. fell to eighth place from sixth last year.

"The deterioration of B.C.'s ranking resulted from poor scores for regulatory uncertainty, cost of compliance and environmental regulations," the institute's survey said.

"The province's score on the 'taxation in general' question also deteriorated."

Among the 136 worldwide jurisdictions, B.C. fell to 69th place from 52nd out of 133 jurisdictions last year.

Nationally, Saskatchewan was the topranked Canadian jurisdiction for oil and gas investments, according to the survey.

The institute said Saskatchewan surpassed Manitoba, the top-ranked region last year, which finished second this year.

Saskatchewan was applauded for its government's long-term stability in energy policy, low royalties and "clear regulatory frameworks."

"Saskatchewan understands the petroleum industry and how important it is to maintaining a prosperous economy," Angevine said.

Alberta was sixth, moving up from eighth last year, with the Fraser Institute noting drilling incentives introduced in May.

However, the institute said Alberta remains a concern for investors due to "regulatory uncertainty . . . environmental regulations and the cost of regulatory compliance."

Ontario finished third; Nova Scotia fourth; Newfoundland and Labrador fifth; New Brunswick was seventh; Quebec ninth; and the Northwest Territories were 10th. Nunavut and the Yukon were not ranked.

No Canadian region cracked the global Top 10 of this survey. Saskatchewan was the closest, at 11th out of 136.