Petrolia CEO says he wants Quebec premier to clarify stance on energy drilling

The president and CEO of energy company Petrolia Inc.is calling on the provincial government to respect contracts for oiland gas exploration on Anticosti Island.

Alexandre Gagnon said today the Quebec government has cut off allcommunication with Petroliasince December.

• Philippe Couillard says he's ready to pull plug on Anticosti oil, gas exploration

The Quebec City-based company entered into a limited partnershipwith the province in 2014 in order to conduct exploratory oil andgas drilling on Anticosti Island, located in the Gulf of the St.Lawrence.

Premier Philippe Couillard has recently publicly denounceddrilling on the island despite the agreements signed between thegovernment and Petrolia.

Gagnon says he has applied to the government for drilling permitsfor the island, as the exploratory work is scheduled to begin thissummer.

He said he wants to meet with Couillard to clarify where thegovernment stands on oil and gas exploration on Anticosti.