Donn Lovett, a Calgary businessman who works with Mr. Millholland on Iraqi issues, said the oil executive refused to accept any bribes from the Iraqi government. Mr. Lovett said Mr. Millholland opposed the war but was also an opponent of Mr. Hussein. "He thought Hussein was disgusting."
Mr. Millholland became involved in Iraqi issues during a visit to the country in 1997.
"Somebody over there took him to a hospital and showed him what was happening to the children," Mr. Lovett said. "So Arthur came back to Canada screaming about the conditions of the children and what we were doing as a country."
Mr. Millholland became an outspoken critic of economic sanctions against Iraq. He even appeared before a parliamentary committee to push the government to lead an international effort to lift sanctions and open relations with Iraq.
In 1998, Oilexco became the only Canadian company to participate in an oil-for-food program that allowed Iraq to sell a limited amount of oil, through the UN, and use the proceeds to buy food. Mr. Millholland said at the time that Oilexco was also hoping to become involved in oil projects in Iraq once sanctions were lifted.
In late 2002, Mr. Millholland organized a visit to Iraq by a group of Canadians, including an MP, in an attempt to stop the war. He also offered to use his close contacts with Iraqi government officials, including former foreign minister Tariq Aziz, to help broker a deal to avoid the conflict.