OTTAWA - The Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural
Resources Canada, and the Honourable Cecil Clarke, Nova Scotia Energy Minister,
today announced the appointment of Diana Lee Dalton as Chair of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore
Petroleum Board (C-NSOPB).
"Ms. Dalton has had a distinguished career in law and consulting on natural
resources, both in Canada and abroad, and will be a welcome addition to the
C-NSOPB,"
said Minister Efford. "I believe her leadership and experience will be an asset
to the Board in its deliberations and decisions."
"I'm very pleased that we were able to find someone of Ms. Dalton's ability
to be Chair," said Mr. Clarke. "Nova Scotia's offshore is at a critical stage of
its development and we're counting on the Board to be a responsible steward of
that development."
Ms. Dalton, an independent consultant, has worked with governments, the
private sector and international development agencies on legal and
administrative matters in the natural resources sector. Among the highlights of
her career, she was Interregional Advisor in Natural Resources at the United
Nations in New York and Acting Assistant Secretary and Senior Policy Analyst
with the Department of Minerals and Energy for the Government of Papua New
Guinea. She has also held senior positions in the Nova Scotia government and was
legal counsel for LASMO Nova Scotia Ltd., an oil and gas company.
Ms. Dalton holds a Law degree from Dalhousie Law School, as well as a
Master's degree in Political Science from McMaster University, and an Honours
Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Acadia University.
The C-NSOPB is an
independent body responsible for the regulation of petroleum affairs and safe
practices offshore Nova Scotia on behalf of the governments of Canada and Nova
Scotia. The Board's principal responsibilities include ensuring the safe conduct
of offshore operations, protecting the environment, managing offshore oil and
gas resources and issuing licences for offshore exploration and development.
The C-NSOPB reports to
the Government of Canada through the Minister of Natural Resources, and the
Government of Nova Scotia through the Nova Scotia Minister of Energy. The
Board's five members are appointed for fixed terms of office. Two members are
appointed by the Government of Canada, two by the Government of Nova Scotia, and
the Chair is appointed by both governments. Further information on the C-NSOPB is
available at http://www.cnsopb.ns.ca/.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Diana Lee Dalton has been appointed as the Chair of the Canada-Nova Scotia
Offshore Petroleum Board. An independent consultant in the natural resources
sector, Ms. Dalton will now oversee the operations of the board, which is
responsible for the regulation of petroleum affairs offshore Nova Scotia on
behalf of the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia.
For more information, media may contact:
Ghyslain Charron
Tom Ormsby
Media Relations
Director of Communications
Natural Resources Canada
Office of the Minister
Ottawa
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 992-4447
Ottawa
(613) 996-2007
John Perkins
Nova Scotia Department of Energy
Halifax
(902) 424-1757
