Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott says he cannot overstate how important it is for the local oil and gas industry to have a government in Ottawa that supports what it does.

Parrott says he has a “direct line” to federal energy minister Tim Hodgson.

He says having a federal government which supports energy development bodes well for projects like Bay du Nord.

“And the whole idea that we are now becoming greener with this project, helps. I cannot even express the order of magnitude – understanding how much it will help us.” Parrott said.

He says the province has several “super” players involved in the offshore “that are extremely interested in developing gas, brownfield, and we also have our greenfield gas that we have access to.”

He says this also opens the door to CCS (carbon capture and storage.)