PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2011

Provincial Auditor General stands up for Transparency

The Green Party of Nova Scotia and the Green Party of Canada are applauding the Auditor General of Nova Scotia, Jacques Lapointe, for refusing to engage in a vetting agreement with the oil companies as part of an audit of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB). "Mr. Lapointe is standing up for accountability in Canada, something that we wish more of our leaders would do," said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

The CNSOPB is responsible for regulating the offshore oil industry and, as a joint federal-provincial agency, also has environmental assessment responsibilities under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA).

"We have already protested that the CNSOPB is not arms-length enough from the oil companies to properly regulate," said John Percy, Leader, Green Party of Nova Scotia. "Private corporations cannot and must not control information from federal-provincial agencies set up to monitor their activities."

"The same issues are happening in Newfoundland Labrador. Our question is why the federal government thinks it is okay to give the oil companies control over what is released to the Auditor General's office and to the public. Where is the transparency?"

The federal Auditor General has apparently agreed to the vetting process demanded by ExxonMobil and Encana, giving the oil companies the right to ban the publication of any documents they had filed with the CNSOPB that they viewed as confidential.

"The Auditor General of Nova Scotia is correct in asking for and receiving all relevant information and publishing the same in the public interest. This is the very foundation of government. To say otherwise is to compromise responsible governance in the interests of citizens," said Percy.

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