Premier Tony Wakeham says Prime Minister Mark Carney “certainly believes” in the Bay du Nord project.

Wakeham had his first meeting with Carney in Ottawa last week since becoming Premier in mid-October.

He says he stressed the importance of Bay du Nord not just for this province, but for Canada as a whole.

He also emphasized that the project is about “turning an industry” and getting people to work.

While Carney did not make any assurances, Wakeham says the PM took the information and appeared to be receptive to it.

The Premier says he told the PM that upwards of 70 per cent of Trades NL workers are not working at the moment, which seemed to cause the Prime Minister concern. He says Carney also agrees with him about the importance of having work done in the province.