Reuters: Regulatory News: Canadian government rejects public consultations on Nexen bid

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Canadian government rejects public consultations on Nexen bid Oct 3rd 2012, 14:46 Wed Oct 3, 2012 10:46am EDT * Industry minister sees no public consultations in review * Opposition motion set for defeat later on Wednesday OTTAWA Oct 3 (Reuters) - Canada's ruling Conservatives will defeat a parliamentary motion asking the government to hold public consultations during its review of the $15.1 billion bid by China's state-owned CNOOC Ltd to buy Canadian oil company Nexen Inc, Industry Minister Christian Paradis said on Wednesday. Parliament is expected to vote on the motion, presented by the main opposition party, the New Democratic Party (NDP), later on Wednesday. "Oh no, we will oppose," Paradis told reporters when asked how the Conservatives would vote. The government has a majority in the House of Commons and can easily kill the proposal. "What the NDP is asking is a public consultation and there is no way that, you know ... What I've said is that we have the tools we need to determine whether the transaction will provide a net benefit to Canada," he said. Under the Canada Investment Act, the federal industry minister must review any foreign investment worth more than C$330 million ($337 million) to determine whether it is of net benefit to Canada. The bid for Nexen has divided Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet and sparked a polarizing debate, pitting fears about national security and control of strategic resources against the need for capital. Nexen has a substantial interest in northern Alberta's oil sands, among the world's biggest crude reserves. "We're open to investment but this particular transaction will be scrutinized very closely," Paradis said. In addition to asking for public consultations on the merits of the deal, the NDP motion called for a clarification of the concept of "net benefit" for Canada in making judgments on foreign takeovers, which critics say is too vague. It also calls for public hearings on the broader issue of foreign ownership in the Canadian energy sector. Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints

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