The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by Honourable Siobhan Coady, Minister of Natural Resources:

Mr. Speaker, this government requires that all natural resources projects in Newfoundland and Labrador have benefits agreements which include gender equity and diversity plans. These agreements maximize jobs and business opportunities for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

In our province, more than 14,000 people are directly employed on projects including White Rose, Hebron, Hibernia, Terra Nova, IOC, Vale, Canada Fluorspar Inc., Tacora, and the Lower Churchill Project. More than 90 per cent of those are residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.

We take a strategic, project-specific approach to everything we do. We are committed to continuous improvement and work diligently on behalf of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Mr. Speaker, over the last two years, we have had over $18 billion in investments announced for mining and oil and gas in our province. Through Advance 2030 and Mining the Future, we are focused on plans for growth and development in our natural resources industries. To meet our vision and to maximize our benefits, we must be globally competitive, innovative, and environmentally responsible.

We will do this with the support of industry partners and community leaders throughout the province. Thank you.