This week, community members met with Joanne Thompson, MP for St. John’s East and Minister of Fisheries for Newfoundland and Labrador, to raise concerns about the Bay du Nord offshore oil project and its risks for the province’s future.
The community members emphasised that Bay du Nord should not be framed as a “nation-building” project, as the massive offshore oil development poses unacceptable risks to fisheries, marine ecosystems, and Canada’s climate commitments. Instead, they urged Minister Thompson to consider renewable energy as a more unifying and forward-looking legacy for the Liberal government’s energy portfolio.
Read more about the fight to stop the Bay du Nord oil field
Strong local resistance to Equinor's Bay du Nord oil project
Local environmental and community groups have long argued that Bay du Nord is neither economically viable nor socially responsible. The project, led by Equinor, has faced criticism for threatening Indigenous rights, putting culturally significant species such as whales at risk, and exposing local economies to the danger of oil spills. Financial analysts have also raised doubts about the long-term profitability of the project, while national polling shows that a strong majority of Canadians prefer investment in renewable energy over oil and gas subsidies.
Read more about Equinor and why their energy transition plan fall short
Canada’s vast potential for clean energy represents a safer and more sustainable path to economic growth. Community groups are urging Minister Thompson to help ensure that federal resources support projects that protect fisheries, respect Indigenous rights, and leave a lasting legacy of clean energy for future generations.