Williams to pressure Ottawa on Hebron, equalization

Now that Canada's premiers have wrapped up their annual summer meeting, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams says his next move is to bring his views to Ottawa.

While the premiers didn't reach an agreement on how to fix the fiscal imbalance,Williams said he received support from some of them— particularly from Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert—for hisviewthat resource revenues should not be included in the equalization formula.

"So we fall into a similar situation as several of the other provinces," said Williams, "very similar to Saskatchewan, for example."

Calvert said he plans to make sure Prime Minister Stephen Harper lives up to his election promise to exclude resource revenues from the equalization formula.

"Our position is simple— you've made the promise, we believe it's the right decision, now just keep the promise and implement it," he said.

Williams said he has also received an endorsement from the premiers for another disagreement that has been brewing betweenhim and Ottawa.

The premier is looking for federal support that could help revive negotiations on Hebron, which were shelved in April. He wants the federal government to give him permission to create legislation that would set time limits on how long a company can own development rights on an offshore field without acting.

Harper has previously said that he does not want to get involved with the fight over the Hebron oil field.

However, Williams said he plans to use the support he received from the premiers last week to renew his request for Ottawa's help.

"What I had for the Atlantic Accord was the endorsement of the premiers— and I have tell you, I used that, and that was very, very important and it was very strong leverage," said Williams.

"I think Prime Minister Harper is going to see that the premiers are behind me on this particular issue, so I look forward to presenting it to him."