The Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology admits that it may take some time to transition away from non-renewable resources like oil and gas, but the transition is happening.

The province announced last week that the Come By Chance Refinery is being transformed to produce bio fuels from things like canola oil.

Andrew Parsons says while that’s an exciting development, oil and gas will still be needed for the foreseeable future.

“I don’t think the planes have changed over yet to be electrified” he says “we still live in a world that relies on this commodity.”

He says if projects like Bay du Nord don’t go ahead, other jurisdictions will fill the demand, and at a greater environmental cost. “Why would we….basically punish ourselves?” says Parsons.