In a startling revelation, recent research from Trades NL suggests that employment gains from the Bay du Nord project will be disappointingly low for Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization’s latest analysis paints a grim picture of local job creation.

The findings were unveiled just yesterday, summarizing a 35-year history of mega project impacts within the province. This backdrop reveals a stark contrast to previous initiatives—particularly the Hibernia project, which saw a robust 62% local employment rate from 2011 to 2017, and the Hebron project, boasting a remarkable 100% local construction from 1990 to 1993.

However, the outlook for Bay du Nord is bleak: Trades NL estimates that a mere 11% of jobs created will be filled by residents of the province. This troubling statistic comes on the heels of Equinor's decision to award a Norwegian company the coveted contract for constructing the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit.

Bob Fiander, President of Trades NL, emphasized the irony of the situation, stating that Newfoundland and Labrador, as the rightful owner of the resource, ought to be more actively involved in the project’s construction. He pointed to the successful local construction of components for both Hibernia and Hebron as evidence that provincial capabilities should not be underestimated.

Political stirrings are already emerging in response to these revelations. PC leader Tony Wakeham has characterized the projected local employment figures as "alarming," especially considering the immense potential of Bay du Nord. Committed to transparency and collaboration, Wakeham has vowed that, if elected, he will engage with all stakeholders to carve out a viable path forward for maximizing local benefits from this significant resource.