(St. John’s, NL – November 28, 2025) Please find below statements from Energy NL Board Chair Richard Mandeville and CEO Charlene Johnson on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta.
“I am pleased to see the agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta and the recognition that the regulatory impediments to investment placed on the oil and gas industry must change. Our long-term advocacy on these issues has had a positive impact and placed us in position to succeed. Newfoundland and Labrador will now be removed from the long shadow of the emissions cap and be afforded the opportunity to contribute to Canada’s energy strategy.
Most importantly, I thank Energy NL’s members for their support and contribution during this challenging period for our industry. At times, it felt as though this outcome may not be achieved; yet, our members stood with us as they knew the negative impact the emissions cap was already having on them and our industry. They too raised this concern with their elected officials. Energy NL’s efforts were on their behalf, and our work was much easier to do knowing we had their full support.”
• Richard Mandeville, Chair of the Energy NL Board of Directors
On Thursday, November 27, 2025, the governments of Canada and Alberta signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy policy and development. Details of the MOU can be found
here.
“Energy NL welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding between Canada and Alberta as it eliminates the federal emissions cap, addresses concerns about the ‘greenwashing act,’ and sends a positive signal that Canada, specifically the oil and gas industry, is once again open for business and investment.
Energy NL has advocated tirelessly for the elimination of the federal emissions cap as it would be a cap on production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador and limit the ability of our industry to grow. The emissions cap both turned away investment and hindered growth. Energy NL hired international energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie to review the impacts of the emissions cap on the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry and the results of their study verified the negative impacts on our industry.
For several years, the emissions cap was a leading focus of Energy NL discussions with federal and provincial officials. Energy NL met with Prime Minister Mark Carney September 8, 2025, to share our concerns, backed up by the Wood Mackenzie study. We also ensured the impacts of the emissions cap on Newfoundland and Labrador – not just Western Canada – were discussed during the recent federal and provincial elections. Today, we are pleased to see our advocacy was effective and that governments listened.
I would like to thank Prime Minister Carney and the Government of Canada for addressing our concerns and for taking these steps. As well, I thank the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador for continually advocating for the elimination of the emissions cap and ensuring our oil and gas industry has an opportunity to continue providing significant benefits to Canadians.
As an industry, as governments, and as a country, we must continue to work collaboratively to strike the right balance of meeting our collective carbon reduction objectives while maximizing the opportunity before us through energy development. Canada is, and has always been, an energy superpower. We can continue to supply the world with lower carbon energy while providing substantial benefits to our people and communities. Newfoundland and Labrador can and will play a leading role in this approach.
We now look forward to working with Equinor and the federal and provincial governments to see the Bay du Nord offshore oil project as part of the Major Projects List. I said after the Energy NL meeting with Prime Minister Carney in September that the discussion felt like the TSN Turning Point for our energy industry. The elimination of the emissions cap and changes to greenwashing legislation further demonstrate Canada is on a new path – the right path – for natural resource development and collaborative approaches to lowering our environmental impact. This week we have taken a step forward for our energy industry, and for Canada. I look forward with great optimism on our ability to continue this momentum and attract investment, kickstart development, and provide opportunities for success for Energy NL members and all Canadians.”
• Charlene Johnson, Energy NL CEO
Energy NL represents over 500 member organizations worldwide which are involved in the energy sector. Members are active in all areas of the supply and service sector and include a diverse representation of businesses that range from offshore supply vessels and helicopters, carbon reduction and sustainable technologies, health and safety equipment and training, engineering solutions and fabricators to law firms and human resource agencies.
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Media contact:
Ken Morrissey, Chief Strategy & Communication Officer
Mobile: 709-725-5172 |[email protected]| @WeAreEnergyNL
