Noia requests response from Canadian PM Trudeau on urgent requests for help

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND - Following a news conference of May 26, 2020, Noia wrote Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to request a response to pleas from the industry and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to provide assistance to help the offshore oil and gas industry recover from COVID-19 and remain globally competitive. The news conference was held after months of discussion with officials with the Government of Canada and significant amounts of information being provided on the dire circumstance of the industry and those who work in it. Since the news conference over a week ago, Noia has not received any indication from the prime minister that support may be coming.

The letter to Prime Minister Trudeau repeats the points made during the news conference that incentives for offshore exploration and development projects are needed to ensure Canada’s offshore oil and gas industry remains globally competitive and to help get delayed and deferred projects moving forward and people back to work. Further, these incentives have previously been used in the offshore to great success and economic return. The letter also discusses the commitment of industry members to help the federal government meet its climate change obligations and achieve net-zero by 2050, as well as the economic impact that could occur should the industry lose recent momentum and projects not continue.

“Noia, the provincial government and industry members have been seeking assistance for some time and last week’s news conference brought everyone together to plead with Prime Minister Trudeau for help. We have provided significant information on our requests, the impact they will have, as well as the dire circumstances of Noia members and our offshore industry. If the Government of Canada does not act now with incentives that make us globally competitive and consider the long-term benefits of the industry, this crisis may be irreversible and we will lose not only the international momentum we had, but our opportunity to be leaders in the transition to renewable energy. We need help and we need it now,” said Charlene Johnson, Noia CEO.