Windsor Energy tried to muzzle NDP, says leader

The leader of the New Brunswick NDP alleges that the head of Windsor Energy, a gas exploration company, has tried to silence him.

Dominic Cardy claims Windsor's CEO Khalid Amin called him Wednesday andtold him he didn't like his recent comments thatthe companyhad broken New Brunswick's oil and gas law in Sussex.

"And (he) went on to say, over the course of several minutes and in several different ways, that if I didn't stop, I would hear from his lawyers," Cardy said.

The Calgary-based company has apologized to Sussex town council for its contractor Seismotionconducting testing within town limitson Oct. 17 without written permission, but has not admitted to breaking the law.

CBC News called the number on Cardy's cell phone'sincoming-call log and Amin answered, but he refused to do an interview about his call to Cardy.

Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup has also saidWindsor Energybroke the rules andshould be penalized,but announced Wednesday the companywill not face charges.

After a government investigation,Northrup forwarded a complaint about the incidentto the RCMP in November.

But the RCMP concluded its investigation and will not lay charges because nothing in the existing regulations allows a company to be punished or penalized, Northrup said.

"They did break the law," he said, vowing to strengthen the regulations governing oil and gas companies.

Meanwhile, Windsor's exploration licence expired in November, and Northrup said he can choose not to issue the company more permits.

Opposition leader Victor Boudreau is calling for a moratorium, saying there may be other companies in the future that run into similar issues.

Premier David Alward has indicated that he wants to implement thecontinent's strongest regulationson the shale gas industry.

The Progressive Conservative government has also promised to introduce a new Environmental Protection Plan in March.