The Bay du Nord oil project off Newfoundland’s shores may not be on the federal government’s initial list of nation-building projects, but it is just as much in the national interest as a port in B.C. or a nuclear plant in Ontario. This $16-billion project will create thousands of person years of high-paid employment for Newfoundland and thousands more spinoff jobs throughout the region. And yet the company hired to build this $16-billion project, Equinor has hired an offshore company to build the topside pumping stations, piping and processing equipment.

Recent statements from the provincial premier expressing a commitment to see union labour play a central role in the project are encouraging, but words must now translate into clear requirements that this work be done here at home.

To miss the opportunity for Canadian workers to help build such a project would be a travesty felt for generations. We need our federal government to stand with the province and Trades NL and demand this construction work be done here at home. With the premier signaling support for keeping this work in the province, and for ensuring union........

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