The Interim Leader of the Provincial NDP is calling government’s approval of the Bay du Nord project “bittersweet.”

Jim Dinn says the project brings much-needed short relief for workers, but highlights the fact that both the provincial and federal governments have no plans to transition the province, and are simply acting out of desperation.

He says his party will continue to advocate for a “robust just transition plan” for the future of workers employed in the oil and gas sector. Dinn says it’s important to note that oil from the project is not expected to hit the market until 2030, while countries around the world are already actively turning away from oil and gas in response to climate science.

He points to the International Labour Organization, which estimates 24 million green energy jobs will be created this decade via global energy transition, along with more than 43 million new renewable energy jobs by 2050.