Edited to show the announcement could come as soon as Friday
There was no direct reference to the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil industry in Wednesday’s federal throne speech, but Newfoundland and Labrador MP Seamus O’Regan, the federal minister of Natural Resources, says there will be an announcement as early as Friday about a plan aimed at supporting those employed in the sector.
O’Regan, the province’s representative in the federal cabinet, made the revelation during an interview with Ramraajh Sharvendiran on CBC’s "St. John’s Morning Show" early this morning.
O’Regan didn’t offer any details, but hinted at a support program for workers affected by a downturn in an industry battered by both the COVID-19 pandemic and low global oil prices, saying the announcement was worker-centric.
He also said the federal government plan will be done with consultation with the provincial government and the industry.
