Liberal leader John Hogan says his party will create a Major Projects Office, which will play a major role in the coordination of mega projects, if elected on October 14th.

Hogan says the office would report directly to him, and exist within the executive council.

He says the office will be the “central point of contact” for the federal government’s Major Projects Office, and will be mandated to coordinate all government departments and agencies involved in provincially-designated major projects, including the Churchill Falls agreement, oil and gas, and hydrogen developments.

Hogan addressed concerns that the office would simply add another level to the bureaucracy, arguing that the office would streamline processes already in place.

As an example, he references someone making a crown lands application related to a large project in their area. He says that would move all those processes under one roof and make the process faster.

Hogan has also made commitments relating to employment from potential projects related to the MOU.

He says a government he leads will establish a dedicated Churchill Falls Jobs plan – including a digital recruitment platform, and implement a hiring preference for other projects in the MOU – similar to what is already in place for Gull Island.

Meanwhile, Hogan has promised to advocate for the elimination of the federal emissions cap, the introduction of an investment tax credit for future oil and gas developments, and a continued commitment for $90-million over three years for an offshore exploration fund.