By Canadian Press

Federal NDP says N.L. offshore oil project hard to justify; energy minister unfazed

Mar 24, 2022 | 10:03 AM

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador’s Energy Minister says he’s unfazed by comments from the federal New Democrats saying the Liberal government will have a tough time justifying an approval of a new oilfield off the province’s east coast.

Andrew Parsons said in an interview today he expects opposition to Equinor’s Bay du Nord offshore oil project, but he said he feels it’s up to environmental standards and should be approved.

Federal NDP environment critic Laurel Collins said Wednesday it will be difficult for the Liberals to justify approving the project, given Canada’s commitments to limit a rise in global temperatures to 1.5 C.

The provincial Progressive Conservatives have raised alarm about the NDP’s ability to sway the Liberals’ impending decision about whether Bay du Nord’s environmental impacts will be minimal enough for the project to proceed.

Newfoundland and Labrador Opposition Leader David Brazil said Tuesday the new agreement between the federal Liberals and New Democrats to work on shared priorities could signal the end of Bay du Nord.

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Parsons says he’s been given no indication the deal between the two federal parties will have any effect on the federal environment minister’s ruling on the project, which is expected in early April.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2022.

The Canadian Press