Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister says the safety of the province’s fishing industry is paramount when it comes to offshore drilling.
Recently environmentalists and fishermen have raised the alarm on the federal government’s approval of seven BP exploratory drill sites off the southeast coast.
They fear a well blowout could compromise the shoreline as well as fish and whale habitats.
But Geoff MacLellan says he has confidence in the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board’s regulations.
“We are quite confident in the board’s ability to protect workers, protect people, protect the environment, to make sure we are co-existing with the fisheries and the natural environement,” says MacLellan.
Fears of harms to the coast as well as the fisheries prompted two public meetings by the South Shore Council of Canadians last week.
Colin Sproul, vice-president of the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishers Association, was one of the speakers at those events.
“What I expected as Nova Scotian fishermen that we could expect our federal government to afford us the same levels of protection for our industry from potential dangers from oil and gas that other progressive countries afford their fishermen,” said Sproul in an earlier interview.
Acadia Broadcasting requested an interview with Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell to ask about the concerns of fishermen.
A spokesperson said Colwell would defer questions to his colleague MacLellan, who is also the trade minister and says he understands the importance of the fishery.
“For us it’s paramount that we protect the fisheries and the fishers who rely on that industry, we can’t have one take priority over the other so it’s not explore and drill at all cost, we’re not going to let the fisheries be harmed.”
MacLellan says the petroleum board will deliver when it comes to safety.
