Boundary Decision Now Up to Tribunal

Premier John Hamm said today he is pleased with the Nova Scotia effort at the Nova Scotia-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Boundary Arbitration Tribunal.

The tribunal, headed by retired Justice Gerard LaForest of the Supreme Court of Canada, wrapped up its oral hearings in Fredericton Tuesday afternoon.

"We have a very compelling case, and I believe we were very successful in presenting it to the tribunal," said Premier Hamm. "As a Nova Scotian, I am extremely proud of the efforts of the entire team. The strength of the case is evidence of the commitment and dedication of everyone who has been working on this file. Nova Scotians should rest assured that their government has done everything in its power to defend provincial interests."

"The final arguments have been concluded, so the decision is now in the hands of Mr. LaForest and the other tribunal members," the premier said. "With this hearing behind us, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland can focus on co-operating on other important bilateral and regional issues."

Under the terms of reference, the arbitration process will be finished if the tribunal agrees with Nova Scotia’s argument that the boundary line was established by agreement. If the tribunal decides there was no agreed boundary, the arbitration will proceed to a second phase to set a new boundary. The tribunal has 60 days to render its decision on Phase 1.