Atlantic Liberals slam Conservatives for opposition to offshore wind legislation – Halifax

The Atlantic Liberal Caucus criticizes the Conservative Party for opposing a new law that would extend the Atlantic Accords to renewable energy.

The agreements are two separate pieces of legislation first pa*sed in the 1980s to establish a single regulatory process for offshore oil and gas development in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.

Canada and the two provinces agreed in April 2022 to update federal and provincial laws to add offshore renewable energy, as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland seek to harness wind off their coasts.

Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan says the federal bill is just an evolution of energy development that will allow Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to take advantage of ma*sive investment opportunities in the transition to clean electricity.

Conservative MPs say they support renewable energy projects, but cannot support the bill because it introduces layers of bureaucracy and allows politicians to order an end to offshore oil drilling in marine protected areas.

Atlantic Liberal Caucus Chair Kody Blois says not supporting the bill is an attack on Atlantic Canada and its future prosperity.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 20, 2023.