Petrolia, Quebec told by judge to resolve differences outside of court

A Quebec judge has ordered oil companyPetroliaand the provincial government to return to the negotiating table instead of ruling on an injunction request.

Petroliahadfiled the request to forcethe government to deliver $12.8million to the company and its partners so they can continue oil and gas explorationonAnticosti, an island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The company accused Premier Philippe Couillard of purposefully blocking the project for ideological reasons.

Couillarddenied any designs to block the projectand said that his government had executed the contract with Petrolia "to the letter."

How Anticosti became the centre of a debate over oil and gas exploration

Superior Court Judge Martin Castonguay suspended the injunction hearing on Wednesday, telling Petrolia to resume discussions with the government outside of the courtroom.

The judge gave the two sides until July 21st to work out their differences.Castonguay promisedto intervene if they fail to come up with an agreement.

The agreement between the provincial government andPetroliawas signed in 2014 by then-premier PaulineMarois.

At the time of the agreement with Petrolia, Marois called it a chance for Quebec to "take back its rights on natural resources" by decreasing the province's future dependence on foreign oil.

Premier Philippe Couillardhas expressed reservationsabout the project, and initially signalledhe wouldn'tfollow through on the Marois government's commitment. But Couillard relented inMarch.

• Quebec will respect Petrolia drilling contract
• Salmon population at risk if Anticosti exploration continues, conservation group

"The contract is there. We have to follow it," he said earlier this month.

"It doesn't mean that we're happy. We're going to protect that unique ecosystem, I can tell you that."

Couillard has faced criticism from environmental groups for his decision to honour the agreement with Petrolia. Environmentalistssay that Anticosti's fragile environment and endangered species will be at risk if the oil and gas exploration goes ahead.