The leader of the Conservative Party of Canada is highlighting his main priority for the looming federal election- the province’s offshore.

Opposition Leader Erin O’Toole made a stop in St. John’s yesterday in anticipation of the next federal election.

O’Toole’s main campaign focus for this province is getting Newfoundlanders and Labradorians back to work in the offshore, which he says will be a part of the one million jobs the party is promising to bring to the country.

He says the offshore has been let down by the Liberal government. His party has announced an equalization rebate to try to make sure the province’s future is secure to keep young people here.

O’Toole says while government has given millions to the oil and gas industry during the pandemic, before the pandemic the province saw a downturn in the offshore, due to bills like Bill 69.

He says Trudeau’s government made the approval of offshore projects nearly impossible to obtain. He disagrees with the Liberal’s position that jobs should be transitioned away from the offshore and into more renewable energy jobs.