NEWS RELEASES
May 17, 2005 (3:00 EDT)
No. 87
CANADA AND FRANCE TO WORK TOGETHER IN ATLANTIC WATERS
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Natural Resources Minister R. John Efford
today announced that Canada has signed an agreement with France that will provide a
management regime for hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation off the coasts of
Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia and the French islands of St. Pierre et
Miquelon. The Canada-France Agreement on Transboundary Hydrocarbon Fields was
signed on May 17 in France by Canadian Ambassador Claude Laverdure and the
French Minister for Overseas, Brigitte Girardin.
“This agreement is the result of negotiations characterized by a tremendous spirit of
cooperation,” said Minister Pettigrew. “Once in force, it will pave the way for enhancing
hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities. This is good news for the region’s
economy and will further enhance the neighbourly relations in the Atlantic region
between our two countries.”
“The Government of Canada is proud to support the agreement, which will facilitate the
sustainable development of petroleum resources for the Canadian offshore industry,”
said Minister Efford. “This Canada-France partnership is an example of our
commitment to maximizing the benefits of offshore oil and gas for Atlantic Canada.”
The agreement provides for an information exchange between Canada and France on
exploration and exploitation activities within a clearly defined maritime area. It also
includes mechanisms for identifying a transboundary field and sharing resources and
economic benefits between Canada and France. In addition, the agreement provides
for the negotiation of exploitation and unitization agreements for specific fields.
The agreement is also the product of close cooperation between the Government of
Canada and the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. These
provinces participated fully in developing the agreement, and their representatives were
part of the Canadian delegations at the negotiating sessions.
The agreement will take effect once both parties have made any changes to their
domestic regulations required for its implementation.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
Tom Ormsby
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 996-2007
Ghyslain Charron
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 992-4447
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