British Columbia's vast offshore oil and natural gas resources should be recognized and developed as one of Canada's best opportunities for economic growth, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams told a receptive audience at a B.C. Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Monday.

Williams, one-time president of an offshore oil and gas company working off Canada's fossil-fuel-rich east coast, said it would be easy to adopt a pessimistic attitude and shy away from the rich opportunity off B.C.'s coast.


But he said the opportunities are too great to ignore, and that the industry can develop in a way that will minimize adverse environmental impacts. Williams said Newfoundland's three offshore oil and gas projects, coupled with resource developments such as the Voisey Bay nickel deposit, have given the province the strongest rate of economic growth in Canada.

B.C. can expect the same, Williams suggested.

"It would completely transform what is already a very, very beautiful province," he said.