Premier Tony Wakeham Restructures Executive Cabinet to Direct Major Energy and Infrastructure Projects

ST. JOHN'S, NL — Premier Tony Wakeham announced a major structural reorganization of the Newfoundland and Labrador civil service, creating the Major Energy Projects and Industrial Infrastructure Secretariat within the Executive Council.

Centralizing Governance for Multi-Billion Clean Power Megaprojects

The new executive secretariat will operate under direct premier oversight, centralizing commercial negotiations, Indigenous partnership frameworks, and environmental permitting for the $70 billion Churchill Falls and Gull Island hydroelectric expansion agreements. Premier Wakeham appointed veteran energy regulator Paul Carter as Deputy Minister of the secretariat to ensure strict project milestones and local hiring compliance.

Premier Wakeham emphasized that Newfoundland and Labrador is entering a transformative economic era, requiring decisive executive governance to maximize local economic benefits and jobs.

Energy Sector and Labor Trades Reaction

Trades NL and regional union federations praised the dedicated secretariat for ensuring local apprenticeship ratios and union project labor agreements.

Offshore energy developers welcomed the single-window regulatory coordination.

Organizational Transition Date

The Major Projects Secretariat formally begins operations at Confederation Building on August 24, 2026.