The CEO of Energy NL says now more than ever it’s important to develop NL’s oil and gas resources.

Charlene Johnson was responding to the uncertainty created by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to impose 10 per cent tariffs on Canadian oil and gas.

While those tariffs are on pause until the end of the month, the threat remains.

Johnson says Newfoundland and Labrador’s oil products have a lower carbon footprint than other sources, something she reiterated to high school students at an Energy Day event at the Marine Institute yesterday.

She says energy security is an issue that’s really come to light as a result of recent geopolitical developments.

“We need to development more of it,” Johnson says of NL offshore oil and gas, adding now is not the time for emissions caps.

Such caps are a federal government initiative to address climate change, but is one that Canadian oil industry officials oppose.