Perry Trimper says Bay du Nord oil should stay in the ground and Ottawa should compensate the province for the lost revenue.
The former Liberal-turned-Independent MHA for Lake Melville says it would be the kind of “bold” action that Premier Andrew Furey has boasted about.
Trimper, the legislature’s self-described climate conscience, says it’s time to turn off the taps on any new oil and gas developments.
He acknowledges the province needs to complete the projects that are in progress, but any new ones should be stopped in their tracks with Ottawa compensating government for the revenue lost.
There’s speculation that Equinor’s Bay du Nord find could be one of the largest ever in Newfoundland’s offshore, albeit farther out and in much deeper water.