Holyrood throws support behind Bay du Nord

By Mark Squibb/April 14, 2022

Ottawa wasn’t the only one to throw support behind the Bay du Nord project last week.

Holyrood town council passed a resolution declaring their support for the oil project last Tuesday — only a day before Canada gave the greenlight.

The resolution highlighted the industry’s contribution to the provincial GDP, as well as Holyrood’s involvement in the construction and ongoing operation of Hibernia, Terra Nova, Sea Rose, and Hebron.

“This massive oil project will go a long way in helping our province navigate back to financial stability, and will also create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for many years to come,” said Mayor Gary Goobie. “Many residents here in Holyrood alone are directly involved in the oil industry; but unfortunately, they have also felt the pinch by the downturn over the years, placing tremendous financial strain on them and their families.”

As Ottawa had not yet passed down its decision to support the project at the time of Holyrood’s resolution, Goobie encouraged other municipalities to support the project too.

Nearby Conception Bay South publicly threw its support behind the project in March.

Holyrood’s resolution was sent to the federal and provincial cabinets.

“The simple reality is that the future direction of our province is hanging in the balance with this pending decision, and we implore the federal environment minister to do the right thing and approve this project,” admonished Goobie.

Equinor first discovered oil in the Flemish Pass, a basin located about 500 kilometres east of St. Johns, in 2013. The company expects oil production will begin within the next five to 10 years and estimates the Bay du Nord project will produce about 300 million barrels of oil and $3.5 billion in government revenues.