Regional Assessment Comment

This submission is on behalf of our COO.

I am writing today as COO of a locally owned and operated family business in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the early 1990’s, with the advent of our country’s offshore oil and gas sector, our company made the strategic decision to forge our future in this industry.

We have not looked back.  Today, we employ hundreds of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and we are one the largest employers of people working offshore.  We have taken our hard earned experience in the industry and we are now exporting it to other parts of Canada and the world.  Most recently, we have begun training our friends in the Guyanese oil and gas industry; local Guyanese men and women, new to the industry, are being mentored by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.  We were there when Guyana produced its first drop of oil late last year.  This would not have been possible, if not for the courage Canada showed in the 1990’s, kickstarting the industry in Atlantic Canada.

We see a bright future in the industry for our company and our employees.  We also see challenges as our offshore industry struggles to be competitive globally.  We believe the following is critical to ensuring our industry is competitive on a global scale:

1. The offshore oil and gas industry has made a significant economic contribution to Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.
2. Our industry requires an environmental review regime that is globally competitive and provides clarity and certainty to all stakeholders.
3. Joint management of offshore oil and gas activity as prescribed in the Atlantic Accord must be upheld and strengthened.
4. The C-NLOPB should be the responsible authority for the offshore.
5. The C-NLOPB should be provided the authority to implement the recommendations of the regional assessment review committee, as per its legislated role via the Atlantic Accord.
6. Exploratory drilling wells in Accord Act areas offshore Newfoundland and Labrador should be removed from the designated project list as they do not meet the threshold of the Impact Assessment Act.