The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) wishes to respond to comments made by reporter Jim Vibert in the Chronicle Herald article “N.S. loses out in oil, gas sector”, dated October 23rd and 24th, 2016.
To state that local-preference hiring is not a priority is factually incorrect.
Part of the CNSOPB’s mandate is to apply provisions included in the Accord Act legislation governing offshore oil and gas activities dealing with employment and Canada-Nova Scotia industrial benefits. In terms of employment, this means that the CNSOPB is responsible to ensure that operator’s benefits plans include provisions for Nova Scotians to be given first consideration for training and employment for offshore oil and gas positions. In applying this section of the legislation, first and foremost, the CNSOPB has to ensure that safety of offshore workers is not compromised, and one has to be mindful of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the right of employees to enter into collective agreements.
With each new program, the CNSOPB reviews employment listings, training and competency requirements, and hiring practices to ensure that Nova Scotians, and secondly other Canadians, have been appropriately provided with an opportunity to take part. We monitor Nova Scotian and Canadian content throughout the duration of each program and investigate any complaints that arise.
There are currently eight (8) support vessels working in the Canada–Nova Scotia offshore area servicing current oil and gas exploration and production programs. Employed on these vessels are approximately 150 Nova Scotians and approximately 50 other Canadians – meaning Nova Scotians make up about 75% of those employed on these eight vessels.
The particular situation mentioned in the Chronicle Herald article is with respect to the recent addition of the Maersk Nexus by Shell Canada Limited to support its Shelburne Basin Venture Exploration Drilling Project. Shell already had three support vessels under longer term contracts, and added a fourth support vessel for the second exploration well under a short term contract.
Safety of offshore workers is paramount to the CNSOPB, and is factored in to all decisions it makes. From a safety perspective, replacing existing crew necessarily requires an appropriate level of training and competency, often specific to the vessel. No two ships are alike. Making a significant number of changes to a crew complement within a short time period poses additional risk to the safety of the vessel and its crew. Replacing crew with qualified Nova Scotians may only be completed gradually which is not necessarily achievable nor advisable for short term contracts. The Maersk Nexus also operates under an established collective agreement which provides certain protection to existing crew members.
The CNSOPB acknowledges concerns raised by Nova Scotians who believe they are qualified and available to work in the offshore but are not able to participate. Anyone who has specific questions about the employment provisions within the Accord Act legislations may reach out to the CNSOPB directly.
For more information:
Kathleen Funke
Advisor, Communications
kfunke@cnsopb.ns.ca