June 27, 1997
(Executive Council)
The following statement was issued today by Premier Brian Tobin:
It has always been my position, and the position of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, that the people of this province should benefit from the employment opportunities in our offshore oil and gas industry.
I share the concerns expressed by the ODC regarding the way Hibernia Management and Development Corporation (HMDC) and the Canada - Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NOPB) handled the recent situation with the Italian diving contract. The past record of HMDC and C-NOPB has been less than satisfactory, they have shown no apparent foresight, and I regret the way this situation was handled.
I tried to help bring about a compromise between the parties some weeks ago, but to no avail. This decision was made by the federal government and I was apprised after the fact. The federal government has to speak to their rationale behind this decision.
There will be a review of the C-NOPB's role in maximizing benefits and we will certainly consult with industry and labour in future to ensure that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador get their fair share from our growing oil and gas industry. At this point, I am not prepared to commit to a specific method of consultation, but government will consider all options in the coming weeks.
Contact: Heidi Bonnell, (709) 729-3564.
| 1997 06 27 | 5:25 p.m. |
|
|
|
All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server. Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement |
