Bevington urges Harper to act in Beaufort Sea dispute

Oil, gas exploration sale could help resolve disagreement: Alaska

A Northwest Territories MP is urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to protect Canada's claim to a disputed area in the Beaufort Sea, where the United States wants to drill for oil and gas.

Dennis Bevington, the NDP member for Western Arctic, expressed concern in the Commons this week that the U.S. and Alaskan governments plan to sell oil and gas exploration leases off the northern coasts of Alaska and the Yukon.

The 21,000-square-kilometre area — roughly four times the size of Prince Edward Island — is claimed by both Canada and the U.S. as part of a territorial dispute spanning more than three decades.

Bevington said Harper should at least demand the issue be settled through diplomatic or even legal means before any drilling takes place.

"The prime minister needs to bring this up at the highest level within diplomatic circles with the United States," Bevington told CBC News.

"If permits are given in the disputed area, those should immediately be taken to the international courts for intervention."

in reference to:

"A Northwest Territories MP is urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to protect Canada's claim to a disputed area in the Beaufort Sea, where the United States wants to drill for oil and gas. Dennis Bevington, the NDP member for Western Arctic, expressed concern in the Commons this week that the U.S. and Alaskan governments plan to sell oil and gas exploration leases off the northern coasts of Alaska and the Yukon. The 21,000-square-kilometre area — roughly four times the size of Prince Edward Island — is claimed by both Canada and the U.S. as part of a territorial dispute spanning more than three decades. Bevington said Harper should at least demand the issue be settled through diplomatic or even legal means before any drilling takes place. "The prime minister needs to bring this up at the highest level within diplomatic circles with the United States," Bevington told CBC News. "If permits are given in the disputed area, those should immediately be taken to the international courts for intervention.""
- CBC News - North - MP urges Harper to act in Beaufort Sea dispute (view on Google Sidewiki)