Anderson wants to continue the moratorium on development “until the knowledge gaps are filled”. Campbell says “Anderson is wrong”.

In a statement Campbell blasted Anderson’s call by stating, “If they can do it in the North Sea, if they can do it in the Gulf of Mexico, if they can do it in an iceberg highway in Newfoundland, surely we can do it in British Columbia.”

“The Federal Minister is entitled to his opinion [but] we’ve had two expert panels that have reviewed this. We would not even be considering this if we didn’t know that there was, with the use of sound science and new technologies, it could be done safely,” added Campbell who believes offshore oilfields will be in operation in the province by 2010.

Anderson has had a long history on opposing offshore development. In the 70s, he led the campaign which called for the moratorium on offshore drilling.