The leader of the province’s Opposition says an incentive program for the province’s offshore is a matter of “tremendous urgency.”

Ches Crosbie was responding to what he believes were the vague and non-committal comments from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Andrew Furey on whether any help is forthcoming.

Thousands of jobs have already been lost in the province as companies defer and delay projects.

Noia has been calling for some kind of an incentive program to encourage oil companies to invest in the Newfoundland offshore and secure the industry’s future.

Crosbie says bids are being prepared and submitted in the next week or two in time for the announcement in November. He says companies are looking at the worldwide holdings and comparing it to offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, and they are seeing that they’re not being made welcome here.