Thread by @EmmaLGraney

Minister O'Regan just announced $320m for the NL offshore oil sector... it'll go to maintenance and upgrades, R&D, environmental services and clean tech. That's in addition to the $75m for emissions reduction months ago. #cdnpoli #oilandgas #nlpoli

O'Regan says his government has "unrelenting support" for the offshore sector. This will help workers and support jobs, he says #cdnpoli #oilandgas #nlpoli

O'Regan also gives a shoutout to the NL government for pledging net-zero emissions. #cdnpoli #nlpoli #oilandgas

Finishes by saying he's proud of the offshore industry (I think! The audio is really bad when I'm in Alberta. But I'm diving into my days of reporting in NL to get my ear back in lol) #cdnpoli #oilandgas #nlpoli

Note that Husky was calling for the feds to jump in with $$$$$ to save its West White Rose project.... which is certainly not what we're hearing here today in Newfoundland from O'Regan. B/g here: theglobeandmail.com/business/artic… #cdnpoli #nlpoli #oilandgas

The province? "Help is here, but this is just the beginning." The provincial government announced an offshore exploration program yesterday, btw. It's the kind of thing NL's oil lobby group wants the feds to do, too. #cdnpoli #oilandgas #nlpoli

OH! NL just used the same line as AB does on the oil sector: That the industry "wants a hand up, not a handout." So that's fun. #ableg #cdnpoli #oilandgas #nlpoli

The premier of NL says it'll form a task force to figure out exactly how to invest this $320m just announced by the feds for the province's offshore oil sector. #ableg #cdnpoli #oilandgas

Interestingly, he also says NL is going to expand its green initiatives as it supports O&G. There has been talk of supporting offshore wind out there, for example. (Fun story: My house in Newfoundland tilted when it was really windy, which was often) #cdnpoli #nlpoli #oilandgas

So here's a little tidbit from the scrum with Minister O'Regan: He says the fact NL recently committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 was "huge" as the feds tried to work out how to best support offshore oil and gas. Ottawa noticed, he said. #ableg #cdnpoli #oilandgas

Also, the $320m for NL aligns with what BC/SK and AB received to clean up inactive and orphaned oil and gas wells, O'Regan says. (You'll remember that was $1.7b.) #cdnpoli #ableg #nlpoli