Abstract Canada has vast oil shale resources (estimated at 180 billion barrels proved recoverable oil shale reserve) similar to the estimated Canadian oil reserve of 179 billion barrels. These deposits consist of various oil shale types deposited in terrestrial, lake, and marine environments. These Canadian oil shale deposits are assessed under auspices of Canada/Israel Industrial Research and Development Program and Geological Survey of Canada for their possible use for extraction of hydrocarbon. The organic rich oil shale deposit with thickness of >60m are suitable for this purpose. This paper reviews the oil shale deposits of Arctic Canada from Ordovician to Carboniferous age. Ordovician shale of Baffin Island, Southampton Island, and Akpatok Islands consist of organic lean, calcareous deposits with variable thickness. The Devonian cannel and canneloid deposit of Melville Island, Arctic Canada are liptinitic rich, but are thin and therefore have low mining potential. The Lower Carboniferous Emma Fjord oil shale deposit is the only promising deposit for in-situ extraction of hydrocarbon from Arctic Canada at present.