Minister Champagne in St. John’s to attend the Energy NL Annual Conference & Exhibition 2026

May 29, 2026

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - Canada is among the most prosperous countries in the world. We enjoy the comparative advantages of being an energy superpower and having a highly skilled workforce, the ability to attract top global talent, and an abundance of critical minerals and other resources that the world needs. But to thrive in the rapidly evolving global economy, Canada must build its strength at home.

To that end, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, will travel to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, to participate in a fireside chat at the Energy NL Annual Conference & Exhibition 2026 on June 2, 2026. This event will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Canada’s energy sector.

Moderated by Charlene Johnson, CEO of Energy NL, the fireside chat will focus on Canada’s position as an energy superpower in clean and conventional energy, being among the top five producers of the world’s most important critical minerals, and the competitive advantages of its highly educated workforce and ability to attract top talent from around the world.

Recent investments from Budget 2025 and the Spring Economic Update 2026, including advancing major nation-building projects, are supporting these priorities to spur growth in our energy-producing industries and help businesses thrive in today’s global economy.

Media are invited to attend the discussion. The Minister will take questions from the media after the chat.

During his visit, Minister Champagne will also visit PAL Aerospace, a global aerospace company with a focus on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; Oceanex, a provider of intermodal transportation services to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador; Newdock, one of the oldest shipyards in Canada serving the marine industry in eastern Canada; North Atlantic, a major independent energy company; and Bluedrop ISM, a leading Canadian provider of learning technology.

In addition, the Minister will meet with the Honourable Tony Wakeham, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Quote

“As a clean and conventional energy superpower, Canada has what the world needs. St. John’s is driven by a skilled and diverse workforce and is home to world-class researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Our government recognizes the importance of supporting the next generation of clean technologies, which is why we continue to invest in workers and training while encouraging innovation in clean energy.”

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

Energy NL Annual Conference & Exhibition 2026 fireside chat

Date:
Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Time:
10:15 a.m. NT

Location:

Delta Hotels St. John’s Conference Centre

120 New Gower Street, St John’s, NL  A1C 6K4

Notes for the media

• Registration is mandatory. Please email kmorrissey@energynl.ca  for media accreditation and registration information. 
• Media are asked to arrive no later than 10:00 a.m. NT.
• Photo and video opportunity during the fireside chat and in the exhibition hall.
• The other ministerial engagements while in St. John’s are closed to media.

Quick facts

• Over five years, the government’s capital investments and incentives in support of third parties, totalling about $280 billion, are expected to enable more than $1 trillion in total investment from public, private, and institutional partners.
• Canada consistently ranks among the top destinations for foreign direct investment confidence, with a AAA rating, the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, and ranking number one in the G7 for banking stability.
• In May 2026, Canada was ranked the world’s most attractive market for infrastructure investment by the Global Infrastructure Investor Association.
• Canada has the world’s most educated workforce, a leading artificial intelligence sector that is adding jobs faster than the United States, and a $140 billion quantum opportunity.
• With 16 free trade agreements across 51 countries, Canada has preferential access to 1.5 billion consumers representing two-thirds of global GDP.
• Canada has the best tax treatment for new business in the G7, and the Productivity Super-Deduction will further reduce the marginal effective tax rate (METR) by more than two percentage points.
• Canada’s Major Projects Office is advancing 22 nation-building infrastructure projects and transformative strategies that position Canada for growth across electricity, nuclear, LNG, critical minerals – such as nickel, graphite, and tungsten – and transportation infrastructure. Together, these represent over $126 billion in investments.
• Canada’s National Electricity Strategy could deliver up to $15 billion in total energy savings by 2050 and lower total energy costs for 7 in 10 Canadian households.
• In September 2025, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Prime Minister announced $80 million from the Regional Tariff Response Initiative to help industries across the region that have been most affected by tariffs modernize their operations, protect jobs, and unlock new opportunities for growth at home and abroad – including seafood, manufacturing, and steel sectors.  
• In March 2026 the Government of Canada welcomed the signing of a landmark agreement between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Equinor to advance the Bay du Nord offshore oil development project. Bay du Nord, estimated to be a $14-billion investment in Newfoundland and Labrador, will link multiple subsea drill centres back to a single floating production, storage and offloading vessel, allowing for a phased development approach to unlock several fields and extending activity, capability and opportunity in the region for decades to come.