Registered lobbyists for CNOOC and Nexen met frequently with federal MPs and cabinet ministers prior to Harper's announcement approving the Chinese state-owned corporation's bid for Canada oil giant, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying Canada website.
Lobbyists from Hill and Knowlton Canada, as well as Earnscliffe Strategy Group, met with a wide range of MPs, as well as representatives from Industry Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Services (CSIS) as well as Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.
Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver met with a lobbyist for CNOOC just once, in November 2011. There were 24 meetings in total with CNOOC lobbyists and 20 meetings with Nexen, though not all of the latter were related to the takeover bid.
"The federal lobbying registry is full of oil and pipeline companies over the last few years (eg. Enbridge 145 times since July 2008) that push to 'streamline the environmental assessment act' (according to the registry)," ForestEthics senior energy campaigner Nikki Skuce wrote in an e-mail.
Skuce brought up the implications of this CNOOC-Nexen deal for FIPA, the China-Canada investors' deal that was delayed in November due to significant public outcry.
"I think the complications are two-fold with CNOOC – one is how much appetite will our governments have to impose infractions on the Chinese government if they commit any on the environment, and secondly, and with more dire consequences to our environment and democracy, is if the China/Canada FIPA agreement goes ahead."
"Should this investor protection agreement go through, any decisions, policies, regulations to improve environmental protection can be challenged in a secret arbitration by the Chinese government. If BC decides that Northern Gateway will not be built because of environmental concerns, CNOOC (given Nexen’s support) and Sinopec can sue the provincial government for loss of profits to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars."
CNOOC lobbyists have been meeting with federal government to discuss issues including the following:
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While not specifically related to the CNOOC bid, below is a list of subject matter that Nexen lobbyists' meetings:
| Categories | Description |
|---|---|
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | Canada EU Free Trade Negotiation regarding status & implications for Canadian oil sands including the fuels quality directive. |
| Policies or Program | Canadian Government Foreign Policy Support related to dialogue with the Federal Government on security and energy support in Yemen and Nigeria. |
| Policies or Program | Canadian Government policy & programs on West Coast pipeline & export facilities. |
| Policies or Program | Canadian Government policy related to Corporate Social Responsibility regarding dialogue with the Federal Government on issues of Corporate Social Responsibility regarding Transparency, Security, and Human Rights |
| Policies or Program | Climate Change Policy regarding upgrading & in situ & other future plans for programs or policies affecting climate change |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | Competition Act regarding regulations & guidelines. |
| Policies or Program | Comprehensive Air Management System regarding the development of Federal Policies affecting air pollution |
| Policies or Program | Consultation & discussion on potential precertification requirements & policy regarding CO2 capture & storage technology for ICO2N (Integrated CO2 Network) |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | Consultation & discussions on new, or changes to existing legislation regarding the Income Tax Act & corporate taxation. |
| Policies or Program | Consultation & discussions on potential future policies & programs related to unconventional oil & gas exploration & production |
| Policies or Program, Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | First Nations Oil & Gas Moneys Management Act (FNOGMMA) & labour market policy regarding potential economic opportunities for Aboriginal people. |
| Regulation | First Nations Oil and Gas and Moneys Management Act regarding regulatory approval for exploration and drilling activity, and allocation of revenues to First Nations for exploration and reserve lands. |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | Implementation Acts of Land Claims Settlements & Self Government regarding regulatory approval for exploration & drilling activity, joint venture business development on reserve lands, & taxation of the real & personal property of Indians as defined by the Indian Act. |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | Indian Act & Indian Act Regulations regarding regulatory approval for exploration & drilling activity, joint venture business development on reserve lands, & taxation of the real & personal property of Indians as defined by the Indian Act. |
| Regulation | Indian Oil and Gas Act and Indian Oil and Gas Act Regulations regarding regulatory approval for exploration and drilling activity, issuing of permits for access to reserve lands, taxation of revenues from oil and gas activity and management of revenue from oil and gas activities. |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | Investment Canada Act regarding regulation guidelines |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act in respect to large final emitters, enviornmental charges/taxes, energy policies, fuels standards & emissions |
| Regulation | Notice of intent to regulate greenhouse gas emissions by Large Final Emitters |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) with respect to sustainable development and oilsands development |
| Legislative Proposal, Bill or Resolution | The Canadian Environmental Protection Act with respect to contaminated sites, management of toxic substances, environmental charges/taxes, waste management and sustainable development |
In the same announcement, Harper approved a foreign bid for Progress Energy by Malaysia's Petronas. Subject matter of the Petronas meetings included the Investment Canada Act as it relates to the proposed acquisition of Progress Energy.
Lobbyists from Progress Energy Resources Corp. have been meeting with government officials about both the partnership agreement between Progress Energy and PETRONAS and their recent Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) export joint venture and federal government oversight of their terminal facility on the west coast of British Columbia.
