Oil and gas work in the Arctic was set to resume this year, however Ottawa has extended an order suspending the activity.
That has angered Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer, who is also the Conservative critic for Northern Affairs and Arctic Sovereignty.
“I am extremely disappointed that this five-year review, that should have been completed by December 2021, is still delayed,” Zimmer said in a statement. “This delay has resulted in the order to prohibit oil and gas extraction in offshore Canadian Arctic waters to be extended once again, this time until December 2023.”
In 2016 Ottawa issued a ban on new offshore oil and gas licences in Arctic waters. In 2019, Ottawa expanded those restrictions and prohibited any kind of oil and gas work on offshore Canadian Arctic waters. Those restrictions were set to be repealed on December 31, 2022, but have now been extended.
“Conservatives have always said that it should be northerners who decide on the level of development and opportunities that they want in the North,” said Zimmer. “We have long supported economic development in the territories and northern provinces and the responsible development of our natural resources demonstrating Canada’s presence in the North and key to Canadian sovereignty.
“Canada has the highest standards for oil and gas work on offshore Canadian Arctic waters and we are proud of our Canadian workers. This Liberal government should be proud of them and this industry instead of hurting them.”
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