Oil and gas exploration is dead

Brian Peckford, Parksville Qualicum News, 10 Jun 2005
Richard Neufeld, CKNW, 10 June 2005

A. Brian Peckford
Parksville Qualicum News
10-Jun-2005

Now that the final counts are in for the recent provincial election, one can reach certain conclusions based on the results. One conclusion that I have reached is that the issue of offshore oil and gas is pretty well dead, at least for some considerable time.

I have come to this conclusion given that on this particular issue the lines were clearly drawn between the two major parties.

The Liberals were in favour of lifting the moratorium and moving ahead with appropriate regulations and the New Democrats were opposed to lifting the moratorium.

Evidence of the Liberals’ position is obvious, given their statements in throne speeches and by the premier and the energy minister.

Additionally, the Liberals established an offshore oil and gas team within the Department of Energy and Mines.

The New Democrats have clearly indicated their position in their party platform: “Carole James will make sure common sense prevails by continuing the moratorium on offshore oil and gas exploration.”

The three provincial constituencies to be most affected by offshore activity are the North Coast, Skeena, and North Island.

All three ridings were held by Liberals before the provincial election and all three constituencies were lost to the Liberals and are held by the New Democrats after the election.

The likelihood of a Liberal government with a much reduced majority pursuing their offshore policy in light of these results is low to nil.

Add to this the minority status of the federal Liberals and their desperate attempts to hold power at almost any cost, means that little will be done federally to keep this file active.

And the third party, the first nations, have stated, through the recent public hearing process, their opposition to lifting the moratorium.

A. Brian Peckford
Qualicum Beach

Copyright 2003 Parksville Qualicum News

TOP

Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy and Mines
CKNW
Jun, 10 2005

VICTORIA/CKNW(AM980) - The Campbell Government insists it will continue to push for offshore oil and gas drilling, despite electoral losses in the ridings most affected by the issue.
Liberal MLA's who backed offshore drilling went down to defeat on the north coast and north island. That's prompted former Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford, who now lives in BC and pushes for offshore drilling, to lament that the issue is probably dead.

But Energy Minister Richard Neufeld insists that's not the case, "Well that's his opinion, he's welcome to one. Our document said we were moving ahead with offshore and to my knowledge I've not been told any different, still have an offshore branch and still moving forward with it."

But Neufeld admits it'll be hard to get anything done on this file in Ottawa right now given the Federal Government has its attention on other issues.

TOP