Seamus O’Regan is asking people to cut the federal Environment Minister a little slack on the Bay du Nord project.
O’Regan, the federal Labour Minister and Newfoundland MP, was responding to reporters’ questions about the latest delay in the decision on whether to approve development of the massive oilfield east of St. John’s.
He noted Minister Steven Guilbeault has been a busy man since assuming the Environment portfolio less than five months ago, with participation at the COP26 conference in Scotland, and also contracting COVID-19.
O’Regan says Guilbeault is entitled to more time to make a decision, but also acknowledged it’s not the first time he’s asked.
He says the importance of the project is not lost on anyone but says it was agreed to provide more time, adding while it may be the second extension, “whatever it takes.”
Guilbeault co-founded Quebec’s largest environmental group in the 1990s and also served as that province’s director and campaign manager for Greenpeace.
The new deadline for his decision on Bay du Nord is April 13.