Office of the Official Opposition
For Immediate Release

St. John’s, NL (July 10, 2020) – David Brazil, PC Opposition Natural Resource Critic and MHA for Conception Bay East – Bell Island, is expressing his disappointment in Federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan.

“Minister O’Regan has had months to deliver real and tangible supports for our offshore oil industry but he has failed to do so. This is a failure of O’Regan to support his own province, our province, in a time of great need,” says Brazil.

Today, Minister O’Regan and Minister Coady announced funding for electric vehicle supports, but did not announce any support for the offshore oil industry.

“It has now become apparent that Minister O’Regan is more concerned with electrical vehicles then our oil and gas sector. I suggest to the Minister that our oil and gas sector deserves more respect and attention from him,” says Brazil.

Furthermore, instead of announcing exploration incentives or other tangible supports, O’Regan chose to ignore the concerns from the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association (NOIA) and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and chose to respond with only a vague written statement which offered no solutions.

“Minister O’Regan is the Minister representing our province and he is the Minister for Natural Resources. The time for action and real support is long overdue. Our offshore oil industry is the economic engine of the province. A strong offshore oil sector will grow our businesses and economy, support our non-profits, and help to grow our communities. Without providing real and tangible support for our industry, O’Regan is failing our entire province. The Minister’s continued inaction and the defining silence from the other Liberal MPs representing our province is unacceptable,” concluded Brazil.
 

Contacts:

Bradley Russell

Director of Policy and Research

(p) 1.709.729.3668

BradleyRussell@gov.nl.ca

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