CNOOC slammed by Canadian lawmaker

A legislator in Canada’s ruling party hit China’s state-owned CNOOC (CEO.NYSE, 0883.HKG, NC2A.FRA) with environmental complaints as the company accrues an increasing level of scrutiny over its acquisition bid on Canadian oil company Nexen (NXY.NYSE, NXY.TSE, CXY.FRA), Reuters reported. Lawmaker James Bezan expressed srong opposition to the US$15.1 billion deal, which is currently under extended review by the Canadian government. CNOOC’s lack of attention to pollution control, as well as China’s poor human rights record, were causes for concern, Bezan said on a political commentary website Monday. “I am strongly opposed to this deal, and I have raised my concerns directly with Cabinet as well as with the Prime Minister … due to China’s dismal record on human rights and freedoms, I take particular exception to allowing a state-owned company from China to purchase a Canadian company,” Bezan said.