Duplicates: NATIONALPOST.COM; NATIONAL POST (NATIONAL), FP3; THE LEADER-POST (REGINA) (FINAL) BUSINESS & AGRICULTURE, Page: D1 / FRONT; The Chronicle Herald, C3; THE JOURNAL-PIONEER (SUMMERSIDE), A8;
OTTAWA - Canada's junior finance minister says he's getting a lot of negative
feedback about the proposed takeover of Canadian oil producer Nexen Inc. by a
state-owned Chinese firm.
Ted Menzies, who is from Alberta, said Tuesday there's been plenty of
interest among constituents and fellow Conservative MPs over the controversial
$15.1-billion bid for Nexen from China National Offshore Oil Corp.
And while some are expressing enthusiasm, the majority are expressing
concern about the deal.
"We're hearing comments on both sides of the story, many supportive
and certainly some that are concerned," he said.
"What I'm hearing is more concern rather than actually not
understanding the issues."
Menzies said the concerns were both of a general nature regarding the
industry as a whole, and those focused on the takeover from what he termed
"a foreign company."
Ottawa announced late last month it had launched a required 45-day
review of the transaction under the Canada Investment Act, meaning a decision
should be known sometime in November, unless a 30-day extension is requested.
The issue was front and centre in the House upon the restart of
Parliament on Monday, with NDP critic Peter Julian calling for public hearings
on the issue. The NDP and Liberals also want the government to more clearly
spell out how it applies the "net benefit" test on foreign purchases.
One concern is that China, flush with foreign cash accumulated from
decades of trade surpluses, is using the Nexen deal as a precedent for future
purchases in Canada's oil patch.
Conservative MP Rob Anders said he opposed to the takeover, calling
China a "non-benevolent country."
Ministerial statements have suggested the takeover will need to clear a
higher hurdle than most takeovers, including assurances that the acquiring
Chinese firm, CNOOC, will operate Nexen along market lines.
Another consideration is that rejection would send the wrong signal to
Beijing at a time when Ottawa is attempting to negotiate a mutual investment
deal and exploring closer economic integration - including a free trade
agreement - with the world's second largest economy.
Industry Minister Christian Paradis said Monday that issues would be
"scrutinized closely."
Menzies said the deal will be judged on its merits, but noted that
Canada has an open economy.
"Canada is open for business. We are a trading nation and we have
investors who want to invest in companies in Canada, whether it's the resource
sector or the finance sector," he said.
The Canadian Press
NDP Critic for Canadian Heritage Peter Julian issued the following statement:
"It has come to our attention that a consultant for a federally funded anti-racism project has a disturbing track record of spewing hate speech online against Jewish and francophone communities. This is completely unacceptable. We call on the Minister of Heritage to take drastic action and terminate his contract.
NDP Heritage Critic Peter Julian issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement by Hockey Canada is another attempt to delay the important and urgent work to deal with the toxic culture in this organization. While a former Supreme Court Justice is a credible appointment to conduct the review into Hockey Canada, this won’t be the first time the organization undergoes this process.
NDP critic for Canadian Heritage, Peter Julian, made the following statement:
“Canadians are horrified by the incidents of sexual assault and by what they’re hearing from Hockey Canada. They are left with many questions about how this toxic culture is allowed to persist in our sports organizations and what the government is actually doing to ensure this doesn’t happen again.