Canada Conservative Gets Aggressive With Big Oil

OTTAWA, June 13

By taking on Big Oil, which has developed other offshore fields in his province, Mr. Williams is taking quite a gamble. Newfoundland has been Canada’s poorest province for more than 50 years, and can hardly afford to lose out on any chance of a windfall from Hebron.

But the fight also illustrates that the era of high prices and concern over energy supplies for the United States has emboldened some caretakers of oil fields enough to demonstrate to major oil companies that there are limits to how much is up for grabs. Indeed, Mr. Williams, who built one of his province’s largest personal fortunes through a cable television operation, a law practice and an offshore oil services company, portrays the battle as being fought for the American energy supply as well his province’s financial fortunes.

NY Times