Premier Andrew Furey may have touted Newfoundland and Labrador’s carbon capture opportunities to members of the Empire Club in Toronto this week, but the Opposition wants to know what trade-off the premier is willing to make in suggesting that the province’s offshore can hold the entire country’s carbon output.
The question was raised in the House of Assembly by Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham.
Wakeham asked “why is the premier offering to sacrifice our fisheries to offset the country’s carbon problems?”
The Premier believes “there is a synergistic opportunity in Newfoundland and Labrador, unlike any other,” he told the House “where you can use the wells that are currently offshore to store carbon, multiple gigatons, the entire carbon footprint of every province and territory combined, for decades.” He shot back “are you suggesting that we not explore such an opportunity?”