Canada to examine oil venture’s links to conflict

Saying it was “deeply concerned” that oil extraction in Sudan may be contributing to the forced relocation of civilians, Canada last week announced it would field a mission to examine allegations of human rights abuses in the country. “If it becomes evident that oil extraction is exacerbating the conflict in Sudan, or resulting in violations of human rights or humanitarian law, the government of Canada may consider, if required, economic and trade restrictions,” Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy said in a press release last week. The Canadian company Talisman Energy is a partner in the Greater Nile Oil Project, which includes a new 1,600 km pipeline from the oil fields to Port Sudan.

“Canadians want assurances that the operations of Canadian enterprises are not worsening the conflict or the human rights situation for the Sudanese people,” Axworthy said. He was scheduled to meet with the head of Talisman on Tuesday to discuss the government’s concerns. A Talisman statement said the company would respond “seriously and constructively” to the initiative. “There is a lot of misinformation surrounding Sudan,” Talisman said. Canada last week also appointed Senator Lois Wilson as its special envoy to the Sudanese peace process, Axworthy announced.