Terra Nova MHA Lloyd Parrott is disappointed that Equinor is looking at leasing, instead of building, the FPSO needed for the Bay du Nord project.

Equinor made the announcement at the recent Energy NL conference as part of its efforts in finding the greatest efficiencies possible in pursuing deep sea oil production in the offshore.

Parrott is not buying it.

He told the Tim Powers Show on VOCM that government needs to be vigilant in ensuring that local workers gain the greatest benefits possible from offshore oil production.

Parrott is confident that Newfoundland and Labrador has the labour needed for a range of major projects scheduled in the years ahead.

“Is there going to be labour competition?” Parrott asks. “Yeah, I think there will be, but I don’t think that prohibits us from doing this project, and we’ve proved that in the past.” He says, “we have the labour, people that are away working will come home to work if the work is here, and if the work can be carried out here, it should be. Norway does it in their own country – they should do it in ours.”