Business News - August 2010

VOLUME 25, NUMBER 8, 0834-20X

Canada’s Other Oil City: McInnes Cooper Lawyer Jim Thistle Comments

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Farming and food security • Oil economy • Golf tournament highlights

AUGUST 2010

Contents IN THIS ISSUE Business News is a monthly publication of the St. John’s Board of Trade.

Reproduction of any material contained in Business News is permitted provided written approval from the St. John’s Board of Trade.

Articles and criticisms are invited, but opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily represent those of the St. John’s Board of Trade.

We encourage you to support the business leaders whose names and products you see advertised in this issue as well as throughout our entire membership. The Board reserves the right to edit submissions.

Editor:

Krista Penney

Printed by: British Group of Companies Layout: Roxanne Abbott

ST. JOHN’S BOARD OF TRADE EXECUTIVE Derek Sullivan Jo Mark Zurel Steve Power Denis Mahoney Bruce Templeton Sherry Walsh

COVER STORY

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CHAIR’S MESSAGE FEATURES

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KEEPING CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

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Chair Senior Vice-Chair First Vice-Chair Second Vice-Chair Immediate Past Chair Secretary-Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Keith Healey Kim Keating Jerry Kirkland Jeff LeDrew Margot Bruce O’Connell Brenda O’Reilly Celina Stoyles

STAFF Nancy Healey Jennifer Chaytor Lori Coleman Margie Davis Craig Ennis

Wanda Palmer

Krista Penney Sherry Ryan

Chief Executive Officer Manager, Finance & Compliance Business Affairs Manager Sales Manager Vice President of Policy and Communications Events Marketer & Administrative Coordinator Manager of Member Communications Member Relations Administrator

St. John’s Board of Trade 34 Harvey Road P.O. Box 5127 St. John’s, NL A1C 5V5 Canada Tel: (709) 726-2961 Fax: (709) 726-2003 E-mail: mail@bot.nf.ca Website: www.bot.nf.ca

Business News

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Cover Story our oil industry The first 25 years

by James L. Thistle, QC

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he day John Crosbie stood before an angry crowd of protestors on July 2, 1992 to announce that the Federal Government was closing the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery putting 20 per cent of the province’s workforce out of a job, he was merely completing the traditional trilogy of bad news. Four months earlier Gulf Oil announced that it was pulling out of the giant Hibernia Project, imperiling the future of oil development in Newfoundland and Labrador. And as a result of an international recession, since early 1991 the wages of all civil servants had been frozen by legislation. Anyone looking up “bleak” in a Canadian dictionary in early 1992 would have read “see Newfoundland and Labrador”.

Today Newfoundland and Labrador is a prosperous, transformed economy – still with its soft spots, but otherwise virtually unrecognizable. What happened? Well to an unprecedented degree the stars aligned, and Newfoundland and Labrador, Woe’s orphan child, had triumphed.

From 1979 when Chevron spudded the Hibernia discovery well, through the years of confrontations with Ottawa over control of offshore revenues, then Premier Brian Peckford maintained an unwavering focus on jobs and infrastructure. His perseverance would carry him through the loss of the province’s claim before the Supreme Court of Canada, through the 1985 agreement with Prime Minister Mulroney on the Atlantic Accord, all the way to the 1988 Agreement in Principle for the development of the Hibernia field.

Peckford, strangely absent from the recent 25th anniversary of the Atlantic Accord celebrations, endured enormous criticism at the time for his belief that the offshore could underpin a different province. It fell to Clyde Wells as Premier and Rex Gibbons as Minister of Mines and Energy to finally close the Hibernia deal, and then show the courage to see it through when the politically smart thing in those dark 2

days would probably have been to spend the Province’s financial commitment elsewhere.

Initially the contribution of the Accord and Hibernia project to the economy in the province didn’t get the attention it deserved. In the period 1992 to 1996, actual employment in the province fell just over two per cent, while going up everywhere else in Canada. This was the natural consequence of the fishery closures, but it masked the transformation that was underway. In the place of poorly paid seasonal jobs, the offshore offered long term prospects that were, shall we

say, more than competitive. To the end of 2006, the cumulative expenditures on the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore reached 23 billion dollars, a number almost beyond comprehension when used in the context of a population just slightly larger than London - Ontario that is. Capital expenditures for offshore, and by Vale Inco and IOC in 2010 continue to drive the healthy local economy.

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The three oil fields in production in the Jeanne D’Arc Basin, in 2007 produced 42 per cent of Canada’s light conventional oil, and generated 35 per cent of the province’s Gross Domestic Product. Joining them as the stars of the Newfoundland economy are Vale Inco and IOC. While IOC has long been one of our largest employers, both it and Vale Inco have been able to find far more of their needs met by the Newfoundland and Labrador service sector as a result of its enormous growth in size and skills arising out of the offshore boom. In essentially all respects, the bet on Hibernia placed by former Premier Brian Peckford and played with finesse by his successor Clyde Wells, has proven to be inspired.

On the near horizon, other projects beckon. For oil the most important of these is Hebron, because of its size and its status as a second stand alone GBS project.

Hebron, to be operated by ExxonMobil, is another field in the Jeanne D’Arc Basin where Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose are all located. Expansions to existing fields, very significant in their own right, are being buttressed by exploration programs underway in the Orphan Basin and the province’s west coast. The west coast basin is different, the hills known as the Long Range Mountains here are simply the geological continuation of the Appalachian range in the Eastern United States. The availability of new areas beyond the Jeanne d’Arc will hopefully see current successes multiplied elsewhere.

The 25 years since the Atlantic Accord have changed Newfoundland and Labrador more than I would have believed possible, standing on the far right side of the signing ceremony in 1984. It has taken the work of thousands of people to build on the base Premiers Peckford and Wells laid; we owe a collective thanks to all of them.

McInnes Cooper is Atlantic Canada’s law firm. With over 200 lawyers, they are among the 20 largest firms in Canada.

Contact 709-722-8735 or visit www.mcinnescooper.com.

Business News

Chair’s Message using resources wisely Natural resources: ours to use responsibly

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ike many topics, it would be irresponsible to look at only one side of a story to the exclusion of the other; natural resources are no different. In the oil and gas sector we have seen money flow into government coffers to cover the explosive upward costs of things like health care. We have also seen how damaging the effects on the environment can be when things go wrong, such as the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The lesson in both cases: natural resources are there for humans to use wisely.

There is no doubt that the oil and gas resources off our shores have brought significant financial wealth. Figuring out how to turn today’s prosperity into tomorrow’s is a way to use this wealth and these resources wisely. We do this by taking some of the windfall and investing it in sustainable and competitive industries.

The debate over what natural resources we use, how we use them, how reliant we are on them and who benefits from them may never be over. But we can’t let some differences stop us from using natural resources in a smart way.

We recently learned a great deal more about the Lower Churchill, as the province has announced its benefits strategy for construction of these projects. Engineering and project management person hours will be no less than 4 million for Gull Island, 1.5 million for Muskrat Falls and 1 million for the transmission system. And then 13 million, 6 million and 2.5 million, respectively, for construction and assembly on these projects. To call this a ‘significant opportunity’ for business and labour is to undersell it. A combined 28 million person hours to bring sustainable and clean energy online in this province.

Your Board is involved, in its own way, in helping to create opportunities from Lower Churchill. Our work is often focused on more local matters, but the Board also works on issues that can contribute to the province and country. In this case, we are working toward having the Canadian Business News

Chair, Derek Sullivan business community as a whole tell the federal government that it should ‘develop a clear, forward-looking national policy on Canada’s electricity energy infrastructure needs in as timely a manner as possible.’

We are doing this through a policy resolution with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, who will advocate directly to the Government of Canada.

If you aren’t convinced that this is good use of Board efforts on the advocacy front, let me provide a bit more background.

There are many reasons government should create a national energy grid that ensures that electrical energy can cross provincial borders. Some of the top reasons for developing an east-west energy grid include: • unlock new clean and renewable power sources • link areas in demand with sources of surplus power across the country • increase reliability and security • enhance the country’s electricity infrastructure and generate significant capital investment • facilitate interprovincial trade and transmission of power.

As a result of electrical power moving across provincial borders, buyers and sellers will win. Buyers will have more August 2010

security and perhaps lower consumer costs.

Sellers will have the ability to access more potential buyers.

There are environmental benefits as well, as alternative energies would be very much welcome in a national energy grid, and would feed into the distribution network.

They could be used to even out peaks and valleys in demand, to reduce greenhouse gases, for export purposes, or in times when other infrastructure is offline or being upgraded.

In the case of our resolution to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, we are pleased to be working on an idea that would see the responsible use of natural resources and help create a greener economy. As a related benefit, it should help build a major employment driver, a sustainable hydroelectric industry, and continual cash flow to the province’s coffers.

Imagine. Effectiveness, economy and environment coming together.

When benefits are involved, your Board of Trade is doing what it is supposed to be doing: supporting these kinds of initiatives with advocacy work of substance to encourage more projects with more benefits. So that’s exactly what we’re doing.

The Board is trying to be positive and think progressively about natural resources. It just so happens that the Lower Churchill is more topical because of the recent announcement by the provincial government, but we know that there is more out there in oil and gas, minerals, forestry, fishing and so many other natural resources that we are rich with. And your Board will be active in making sure that all of these resources are used wisely to help everyone in this province prosper.

Sincerely, Derek Sullivan

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Gardiner Centre Connects crude oil transport Transportation of crude oil - risk assessment and mitigation

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rude oil, one of the most important (natural) resources in Newfoundland and Labrador, is produced at the three offshore projects at Hibernia, Terra Nova, and White Rose.

Around 340,000 barrels of crude oil – representing 12.5 per cent of Canada’s total production – are produced everyday and then transported to different parts of the world for further processing and eventual consumption. Transportation (and logistics) of crude petroleum products are governed by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (1992) or the Canadian Shipping Act, since they possess chemical attributes of a class of goods referred to as Dangerous Goods.

In general, transportation of dangerous goods involves multiple players – such as shippers, carriers, insurers, governments, emergency responders, etc. – each performing a different role to ensure safe passage of the freight. Involvement of various parties complicates decisionmaking, which is further compounded by the public sensitivity surrounding dangerous goods transport problems.

Unfortunately, the indispensability of dangerous goods to present-day society implies that related accidents – albeit with low probability and high consequence – and the resulting damage to people, property and the environment, cannot be avoided. Hence, the focus of dangerous goods research has been on developing risk assessment and mitigation strategies (RAMS), and commensurate emergency response systems (ERS). It is unfortunate that the train accident in Mississauga (Ontario, 1979), Exxon Valdez oil spill (Alaska, 1989), or the current catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico is needed to underscore the importance of due diligence and accountability.

In Canada, nearly 80,000 shipments of dangerous goods are transported by trucks, railroad, and marine. Trucking, the most popular mode, is responsible for moving 4

Dr. Manish Verma, Faculty of Business Administration 64 million tons of dangerous goods. This predominance – resulting largely from the speed, ease of access, volume flexibility, and convenience advantages associated with highway transportation – has also attracted the largest number of related research initiatives over the last two decades. The resulting efforts have helped develop risk assessment and mitigation strategies, public policy instruments and decision support systems that could be used by the concerned stakeholders to ensure safe transportation of dangerous goods.

Though the current volume of dangerous goods moved by railroads in Canada (viz. 48 million tons) is comparable to trucks, this number is expected to increase significantly over the next decade, given the increasing usage of more than one transport mode. Even though less than one per cent of dangerous goods incidents in North America resulted from railroads, the possibility of spectacular events from multi railcar incidents, however small, do exist. As a result, the academic and railroad industry research, has focused mostly on risk assessment and mitigation strategies. To that end, we developed an optimization methodology for the tactical planning of railroad shipments, wherein transport risk assessment incorporated the differentiating characteristics of railroad August 2010

operations. The proposed framework was tested on realistic size problem instances based in Midwest US, and it was shown that significant reductions in transport risk is possible without unacceptable increases in operational costs.

Finally, marine transportation – the most important mode for Newfoundland and Labrador – accounts for 30 per cent of freight tonnage in Canada, of which 37 per cent is dangerous goods. Furthermore, this mode is responsible for shipping around 2.4 billion tons (or 62 per cent of oil produced globally), which translated into a country-high 60 million tons of dangerous goods transiting the Newfoundland and Labrador maritime transportation infrastructure in 2004. Although large scale spills have resulted in regulations – such as the 1990 Oil Pollution Act in the US – and prompted risk consideration in decision making, the scope has been local (mostly Gulf of Mexico or Northern Europe).

In an effort to close this gap we have developed a risk assessment methodology that incorporates geography-specific spill related costs in planning intercontinental transportation of crude oil and are working on developing optimization framework to facilitate periodic scheduling of tankers for transporting crude oil.

In an age where social responsibility, business ethics, and environmental consciousness have diffused into the corporate and political jargon, is every stakeholder conducting the due diligence to ensure safe transportation of dangerous goods?

Dr. Manish Verma is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial University. His research interests include transportation of dangerous goods, supply chain management and risk assessment.

Connect with Dr. Verma at gardinercentre@mun.ca and let us know how your company is exercising diligence with respect to the transportation of dangerous goods.

Business News

Feature NOIA 2010 conference NOIA Conference brings out big players in oil and gas industry

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OIA Conference 2010: Play on the Edge brought together more than 1000 delegates to hear from the oil and gas industry’s key players and experts from around the globe. Over two and a half days, sessions and keynote speakers brought delegates up to date on current and upcoming industry activity and provided insight into market trends and issues facing the oil and gas industry.

The oil and gas industry continues to grow and flourish, as does the province’s economy and this sentiment was echoed in the presentations from keynote speakers throughout Conference. Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of Canada, commented that the rest of the country would do well to follow Newfoundland and Labrador’s example. He emphasized that the province’s boldness in increased private sector investment will result in a stronger economy and that the rest of the country is still seeing an overbalance of public investment which is leading to lower productivity nationwide.

Just prior to Conference, there was news of a new rig sharing agreement which bodes well for the industry.

Work continues to progress on existing projects and at the NOIA Conference several operators told of their plans for exploration and development drilling.

Statoil announced it will be returning to its discovery in the Flemish Pass, and drilling an exploration well in the Jeanne d’Arc basin. Suncor will be returning to its Ballicatters well, drilled in 2009.

Husky has a number of development wells planned at North Amethyst, which produced first oil in May, as well as continued work to further understand the West White Rose field. Statoil and Husky also have seismic and other programs planned for the coming year.

Conference delegates were also provided with an update on the status of the Hebron project. Spending in 2010 is expected to Business News

Speakers from the opening session of NOIA Conference 2010: Play on the Edge. (L-R) David Scott, Geological Survey of Canada; Mimi Fortier, Department of Indian & Northern Affairs Canada; Hon. Kathy Dunderdale, Government of Newfoundland & Labrador, NOIA Conference Chair Geoff Cunningham, A. Harvey & Co.; Session Moderator Trevor Giles, Technip Canada; Glenn Scott, ExxonMobil; Hege Rogno, Statoil Canada. increase 10-fold over 2009 as the project team doubles in size and a number of local contracts are awarded. This year the project team expects to award Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts and begin Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) as well as submit the Development Application to the C-NLOPB. Project sanction is expected in 2012 and the first oil target remains at 2017.

Nalcor, Vulcan Minerals and CIVC all have plans for drilling activity this year, and just before Conference, Nalcor announced it had encountered gas in the first well of its three well program at Parsons Pond. Exploration activity continues to not only further our understanding of the geology and potential of the region but it demonstrates operators’ commitment to the area.

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The oil and gas industry remains a vital component to the well-being of our economy. While the supply and service community continues to grow and develop, the business community as a whole can look forward to many more years of oil and gas activity and the increased commerce it brings.

NOIA is Canada’s largest offshore petroleum association. With some 450 members in Atlantic Canada and around the world, NOIA is the information hub of East Coast Canada’s oil and gas industry. Contact them at 709-758-6610 or visit www.noianet.com.

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Feature green priorities Protecting the global environment

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oday’s environmental awareness extends from individual efforts to corporate initiatives in conservation, protection and nurturing. Gone are the days of throwing your waste out the car window or dumping your waste oil down the drain. You no longer turn up the heat and the open the windows, and the last time you went camping you probably took your garbage back home with you instead of leaving it in the woods. Whether such decisions are driven by adherence to rules and regulations, or a raised awareness and desire to be socially responsible, it’s a clear win for the environment.

Protecting the global environment is a Baker Hughes priority. Our commitment to protecting the environment begins with Health, Safety & Environment (HS&E), supported by a series of environmental procedures in our HS&E management system. These procedures provide guidance on proper waste management and minimization, and protection of air, land, and water quality, as well as various other environmental concerns.

Energy efficiency Energy efficiency has become a key environmental goal within many

organizations. Improvements in energy efficiency support the company’s sustainability objectives by reducing cost, conserving natural resources, and reducing emissions. An energy baseline was established in 2008 for more than 150 of our facilities, and we expect to double the number of reporting facilities by the end of 2010.

Resources have been developed to support the energy goal, including an energy-reduction toolkit and green building specifications for new and existing company facilities, which integrate energy saving concepts, such as natural lighting.

On an annual basis, energy data are used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions for public reporting in the Carbon Disclosure Project and other forums.

Additionally, we participate in the Carbon Disclosure Project, in which more than 2,000 organizations in 66 countries measure and disclose greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies.

This information is designed to motivate investors, corporations, and governments to set reduction targets and make performance improvements. The Carbon Disclosure Project is the only global climate change reporting system in existence.

On a local level, we operate much the same. Office lights remain off during nonworking hours. Power sources, computers, copiers, faxes; all are to remain off during non-working hours. We maintain a reporting checklist that must be completed by the last employee exiting the facility at day’s end to confirm all power-consuming, non-essential devices are off.

Recently Baker Hughes East Coast Canada was awarded The Pearl Award for Excellence in Urban Design by the city of Mount Pearl. This award underlines Baker Hughes commitment to creative facility and equipment design, building detail along with our focus on landscaping and pride in the presentation or our brand.

Continued on next page...

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Business News

Feature Green priorities Waste management and reduction

Green building initiatives

Throughout our corporation, employees have identified novel approaches to reducing our environmental footprint through effective waste management, minimization, and recycling activities.

While many facilities have succeeded in dramatic waste reductions, some have eliminated waste streams altogether.

Recycling efforts, which are maturing throughout the enterprise, have shown remarkable results, substantially reducing our environmental impact. This includes reduction and recycling results for solid and liquid waste (including water), as well as initiatives applied to reduce the environmental impact of our products and services.

Reducing our environmental footprint also means ensuring sound waste disposal practices are used. We have a rigorous review, selection, and audit process of waste vendors to ensure waste materials are handled and disposed in an environmentally responsible manner.

Where infrastructure is lacking, company efforts focus on eliminating waste or partnering with customers and others to identify the most appropriate waste handling methods.

A number of green building initiatives have been implemented at our facilities.

For example, our Ravenna, Italy, location has installed about 500 m2 of solar panels. The plant produces around 85 kW electricity per day, reducing the amount of electricity used from nonrenewable resources. The plant generates clean energy, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

Prior to installing the solar panels, an environmental assessment was performed to ensure that the community was not adversely affected by the appearance of the panels.

Green building concepts, typically, include a focus on lighting with equipment, such as climate control systems that use significant energy. Our largest office in Houston, Texas, has completed a massive energy reduction project involving lighting retrofits throughout the campus; this concept is being adopted as a standard practice for new sites, including our facility in the Dubai Techno Park.

In our Mount Pearl facility, most offices are located with south/southwest-facing windows. These windows are large, occupying most of an entire exterior wall

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and provide clear, unobstructed views of the outside and allow natural sunlight or daylight to fill each office.

Offshore Our drill bit systems group utilizes an atmospheric surface rig where drilling experiments are performed on large blocks of rock. The blocks are fully utilized and as many holes as possible are drilled in the blocks, which renders them like Swiss cheese. Instead of disposing of these in landfills, when the experiments are complete, the large blocks of rock, taken offshore on large barges, are dropped into the ocean as part of a coral reef rebuilding effort by the State of Texas.

Craig Ralph is Marketing & Business Development Manager with Baker Hughes, East Coast Canada. Craig can be reached at 709-748-4935 or via email at craig.ralph@bakerhughes.com. To learn more about Baker Hughes please visit www.bakerhughes.com.

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Feature oil economy Offshore drilling: where do we go from here?

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ave your finger in the economic wind and you come away with a conflicting sensation of optimism and uncertainty. In St. John’s, at least, we seem to have dodged the worst of the recession, but the airwaves still run rife with the threat of a “double dip”. There are plenty of potential triggers for the feared apocalypse – such as European/American debt, the onset of the Boomer squeeze on the social safety net, and the great unknown. The stock markets are as moody as the Newfoundland weather.

But what are we to make of this province’s oil industry? St. John’s and environs has been on the upswing since the Hibernia deal and is still cruising nicely.

The Provincial treasury has been paying down the debt. We even have indications of new oil discoveries after a long drought, which may carry us forward beyond Hebron. And ongoing, under the radar on the west coast of the island, we have the most significant exploration effort in that area’s history. So there are lots of pluses in the local scene, but the bigger picture is murky. Naturally, as we are finally getting out of the red and into the black, the game is changing. Peak oil (yes it’s coming, if not here already), global warming (yes again), and now the BP blowout.

Let’s look at each one. “Peak oil” means a higher price per barrel which drives up the cost of everything, but also increases royalties and stimulates exploration and development. A double edge on that one.

Climate change - yes we have to do our bit. At some point down the road we must wean ourselves off burning hydrocarbons, but in the meantime - party on. Oil and gas still account for 60 per cent of the world’s energy consumption, and coal (the solid hydrocarbon) makes for 25 per cent.

So, the time may come when every roof shingle is a solar cell, and every parking metre has an electrical outlet, but the transition to the Post-Petroleum Age is likely to take a few decades.

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Phonse Fagan The BP blowout is a more immediate game changer. There have been some 50,000 wells drilled in the US Gulf of Mexico, of which about 4000 are in deep water (>1000 feet), mostly with no major problems. But even one oil blowout makes an awful mess. Obviously the associated pollution is horrendous and governments and citizens have every right to be alarmed.

A similar event happened in the Gulf 30 years ago, but did not trigger the same large scale outrage, as it was located across the border in Mexican waters, and was not

broadcast live on CNN. The good news is that the Gulf came back from that spill, as did the North Atlantic from the numerous tankers that were torpedoed in World War II. Lest I be misunderstood here I must stress that the previous sentence provides no justification for complacency.

The reality is that our present economic buoyancy is very dependent on offshore drilling. Notwithstanding our purchased interest in offshore fields, the citizens of this province are in fact partners in offshore drilling, as we collect royalties and taxes from the oil industry to build roads, schools and hospitals. Because of these benefits our government attends oil shows and supports research to encourage offshore drilling. Where do we go from here? We have drilled 355 wells in this province’s offshore so far, with a respectable environmental track record.

We need to keep doing the things we’ve been doing right and maintain a culture of constant improvement.

Phonse Fagan is an oil and gas consultant (A.J. Fagan Consulting) based in St. John’s. He also teaches the course “An Introduction to the Petroleum Industry”.

For contact information visit www.petro-ed.com.

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        

     



August 2010

Business News

Feature impact of importing Local farming and food security

N

inety percent - by any measure, is a huge proportion of any given product. This is roughly the percentage of our fruit and vegetables that we import in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Other foods, such as beef and pork, have similar or even larger ratios of imported versus local production.

Relying so much on food imports makes our province vulnerable and many consumers are not aware of how their food is being produced and who is producing it. Additionally, it keeps consumers, particularly on the island portion of the province, relying heavily on the costs and dependability of transportation to influence the price and availability of their food.

The greater the reliance on long distance transportation to get food to our store shelves and kitchen tables, the more the volatile price of oil decides pricing. It also means our produce is two to five days older than food which only has to travel locally.

On the reliability side, having such a dependence on the gulf ferry service also means that it would not take a very long disruption in the service to have a huge impact on food availability at local grocery stores.

Britain learned the hard way about dependence on imported food during the air service disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano’s ash cloud earlier this year. Residents of the UK began to notice that supplies of certain goods including asparagus, grapes, green onions, lettuce and pre-packed fruit salads were no longer available during that time. Even though few foods travel by air, the ash cloud had a noticeable impact on the island nation’s fresh food supply.

Luckily, the tide seems to be turning and people are increasingly seeking out locallyproduced food. This trend has manifested itself in various ways, including the evergrowing crowds at farmers’ markets across the province.

There are some obstacles to increasing food security in Newfoundland and Business News

Matthew Carlson Labrador. One challenge that faces many farms in our province is recruiting the staff needed to produce all of the product that a farm is capable of generating. Others include availability of land and attracting new entrants to the agriculture industry.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture has been working on all of these issues for some time. This fall the Federation will focus on the issue of labour in particular by hosting a two-day labour market symposium.

Consumers can play their part in increasing food security in the province as well. By shopping at farmers’ markets and demanding locally-produced food at supermarkets, consumers are voting with their wallets for food security and supporting Newfoundland and Labrador’s rural economy.

For more information: Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture: www.nlfa.ca

Matthew Carlson is communications officer with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture (NLFA). To become a member of the NLFA or for any other inquiries please call 747-4830 or email mcarlson@nlfa.ca.

August 2010

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Feature reducing risk Engineering business safety

T

he oil and gas industry in Newfoundland and Labrador continues to be one of the region’s main economic drivers. In St. John’s it has created new business opportunities and allowed established companies to enhance their capabilities and skills.

Board of Trade members have been one of the many beneficiaries of this increased activity and have been able to capitalize on these emerging prospects. Recent increases in the number of employment and government spending throughout the region has, in large part, been driven by income generated by the sector. There are many reasons to encourage and support this fast paced growth, but how do we manage the associated safety risks?

Engineering companies constantly have to consider the safety risks associated with operations in the offshore oil and gas industry. The often discussed “worst case scenario”, such as the recent Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, could have a tremendous impact on the lives of individuals, their families and the local community, and engineers have to continuously keep these potential

consequences in mind – unfortunately, people can be put in harm’s way when safety is not an integral part of everyday design considerations.

A critical area of concern for engineering companies working in the industry is how to mitigate potential risks to personnel, especially those involved in the construction and operation of offshore production facilities. Safety is a primary concern for all operators; and engineering companies have to design with safety as the key driver. Making engineering decisions that keep safety at the forefront is the only way to ensure that the local offshore oil and gas business continues to thrive. Many engineering companies operate under inherent safety principles.

Generally this means: • Elimination - Can particular hazards or hazardous activities be designed out?

• Reduce likelihood - Can it be designed so that it is simply less likely to fail?

• Reduce severity - Can the scale, intensity, duration and potential be minimised?

• Reduce consequences - Can the layout and operating philosophy be optimised so that fewer people are exposed to the effects?

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Applying these simple guidelines helps engineers to identify potential hazards, or even prevent an event from occurring.

Further design enhancements are often needed to control or limit the effects of an incident, but the main focus is always on prevention. These principles can be used to prevent accidents in any company and help manage safety risks.

Nowadays, there is an increased emphasis on health and safety in all sectors of industry, including those which were perceived to be low- or norisk. For instance, issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain due to poor posture are now recognised as real concerns for office workers, leading to the introduction of ergonomic assessments. To thrive in industry, business leaders need to adopt a similar safety culture that has been developed in the offshore engineering community. The basic principles are transferable and can be applied throughout the supply chain by the Board of Trade membership. Health and safety will continue to be highlighted as a key issue for the personnel working offshore and those involved in the platform designs.

However, this safety culture now needs to be pushed back into the wider business community for its continued success.

It is never too late for a company to review their operating procedures and identify hazards, and everyone is responsible for safety. It could be the difference between business success and failure, but it is also the right thing to do!

Production Services Network (PSN) is a specialist provider of engineering, operations and maintenance services to the owners of energy assets around the world. In St. John’s they can be reached at 778-4000 or email Melanie Fitzpatrick, Communications Coordinator, at melanie.j.fitzpatrick@psnworld.com.

Referral Rewards Program August 2010

Business News

Feature new technology Text, type, talk: the new meeting room rules

A

recent news story told of an elementary teacher in Nova Scotia using classroom time to teach the how-to of social media. Owning a cell phone is a course requirement and grades are based on the timeliness of Facebook updates and the frequency of tweets. Being caught without a cell phone in hand is a punishable offence for students in this grade five class.

It’s a new way of thinking, certainly. At least for us Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers who didn’t grow up with a cell phone or iPod in our hands. But as we’re all well aware, younger generations are entering the workforce and “wreaking havoc” on the way we do business.

In particular, their fluency with technology is pushing us oldies to think differently about how we use technology in the workplace. That includes in the meeting room.

If you chair meetings, you know that when a participant texts, types, or takes a call, it can distract everyone else in the room. But all these things are showing up more and more in the meeting room and perhaps, just maybe, they’re not all bad.

MEETING TIPS

A high profile business growth consultant, Cameron Herald, recently told a St. John’s audience that he will never take hand written notes in a meeting again. He described the lost productivity involved: you handwrite the notes, you go back to the office and spend time trying to decipher the notes, you type the notes into your computer, and then you share the information as needed.

Mr. Herald said businesses need efficiency, and using tech tools to take and

Time to rethink how we welcome technology into the meeting room.

share information at meetings is a huge way to save time and money. Would Mr. Herald say he and his team are still able to pay attention and contribute to meeting discussions? My guess is yes.

Bringing technology into the meeting room while still ensuring good engaged conversations can be a bit tricky but you can start by setting a few rules and expectations. If people are welcome to use their tech tools during the meeting, make it known in advance. And confirm the rules again at the start of the meeting.

Alternatively, and this is a better option, work with your group to set the rules.

Ask them how they feel about people using laptops or iPads during meeting time. The answers you get will quite likely depend on which generation dominates the room.

These tips are brought to you by Myx Meeting Centre, the province’s first and only centre designed specifically to host meetings, workshops and boutique conferences. Have a question about your next meeting? Email gina@myxmeetings.com.

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Phone: 709-726-6820 | Fax: 709-579-5055 | Email: info@dfbgroup.ca | Web: www.dfbgroup.ca Business News

August 2010

11

2010 golf tournament

Board staff She rry and Vivian with Chair Derek on the ‘C hair Mobile’

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r a chance at Teeing up fo otors Hickman M m o fr r a c a –

Golfers enjoy sweet treats from sponsor Newfoundland Chocolate Company

Massage helps improve the go lf swing (sponsored by Memorial Univ ersity)

snack y a pre-game Golfers enjo ’s y McDonald sponsored b

Tammy Davis of United Way wins a prize

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August 2010

Business News

2010 golf tournament

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Business News

Board amba ssadors snap funny photo the teams s of

win best Cal LeGrow

August 2010

13

2010 golf tournament

Thank You Sponsors

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August 2010

Business News

on

Keeping Current policy matters Hard work pays off on Marine Atlantic The Board has been working hard over the past months to change the way the Government of Canada thinks about the Marine Atlantic ferry service and it appears to be paying off with significant announcements this spring. Aside from two new vessels, the terminals that serve people will be upgraded, and core funding

will be increased. With $500 million in investment over the next five years, the federal government is understanding that the connection to Newfoundland and Labrador’s multi-billion dollar economy is worth investing in.

Chair Derek Sullivan had this to say: “The Board of Trade welcomes additional investment in Marine Atlantic and the

National downtown development conference Pressure Testing • Drying • Chemical Cleaning • Oil Flushing • Hydro-jetting • Hydro Cutting • Boiler Cleaning • Heat Exchanger/ Bundle Cleaning • Nitrogen Purging • Nitrogen Helium Leak Testing • Video Inspection • Pipeline Commissioning • Pigging / Gauging / Swabbing • Bolt Tightening • Calibration Services • Equipment Rentals • Diamond Wire Cutting.

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recognition of this service as a key economic trade corridor in Canada. This is an investment by government that will have returns for people and businesses in this province, but also in Atlantic Canada and indeed across the whole country.

Government’s support will help people and businesses on both sides of the Gulf so we welcome this announcement as a good economic stimulus move by the federal government.”

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Business News

Chem Tech Services 30 Colford Drive East Chezzetcook, NS B0J 1N0 www.chemtechservices.com

August 2010

Part of the Why Development Matters campaign focuses on continuing education and reaching out to experts in the development field. On behalf of the Board, a staff representative attended the 2nd Annual Transforming and Revitalizing Downtown Summit in Toronto in June.

This conference brought together civic planners, developers, architects, politicians and other key players in development.

Here is some of what we learned: • Involvement will take place: members of the public and elected officials will be part of the process • Context has to be considered, as well as other areas of influence such as neighbouring areas next to potential or existing developments • Vision, leadership and planning are required for achieving a particular goal • There is a personal aspect to development and the downtown, and quality of life is a key to attracting and retaining people • Developers are needed; you need to collaborate with them or you’ll have trouble attracting them The Board learned from a number of presenters who have worked on urban development and building around the world that it can take a long time and tenacity to get things done but change – even transformation – can happen. This change can happen with modest moves, even at the planning and policy levels, not just through big infrastructure money or other large spending programs.

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Keeping Current policy matters Q. 1

Your thoughts on the economy Twice a year, the Board surveys its members to take the pulse of the business community on what’s happening locally. The survey is informal and designed to hear the on-the-ground comments our members have. At the time of publication, this survey is just coming out of the field, so some numbers may change, but here is a sneak peak at what you, our members, think of the economy in St. John’s and the province.

Question 1: Would you describe the current economic conditions in the city of St. John’s as: excellent, good, fair, or poor?

Q. 2

Question 2: Compared to one year ago, would you rate your company’s financial position as: better, about the same, or worse?

Question 3: Looking forward one year, do you anticipate that the number of persons your company will employ will: increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Q. 3

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August 2010

Business News

Keeping Current around the board

Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues welcomed Board of Trade members to a business mixer at the Martini Bar. Members enjoyed a sunny afternoon on the patio while listening to the smooth sounds of jazz.

Board Chair, Derek Sullivan, addressed the Northwest St. John’s Rotary Club at a luncheon on July 13. He spoke about business advocacy and building a stronger community.

Kirk Newhook, founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues hosted a business mixer on July 8 at the Martini Bar. Pictured here, Kirk with prize winners (L-R): Andrea Brocklehurst from Plato Consulting, Carol Ricketts of Woodward Group and Jane Halliday of Hungry Heart CafĂŠ.

Business News

August 2010

17

Keeping Current upcoming events Luncheon with Honorable Rob Merrifield

Join us for an informative and engaging luncheon with the Minister of State for Transport as he addresses the St. John’s Board of Trade on Marine Atlantic.

Where: Delta St. John’s When: Tuesday, August 10 Time: 12:30 pm Networking

1 pm Luncheon Cost: $79 non-members

$39.50 with member discount

Business Mixer hosted by Duck on Water

Come mingle and network with other Board of Trade members in the heart of downtown at the contemporary restaurant and bar, Duck on Water.

Where: Duck on Water, 193 Water Street When: Thursday, August 12 Time: 4-6 pm Cost: Included as a benefit of

membership

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Premier’s Luncheon

Join us as Honorable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador addresses the Board of Trade.

Where: St. John’s Convention Center When: Wednesday, September 8 Time: 12:30 pm Networking

1 pm Luncheon Cost: $100 non-members

$50 with member discount

Luncheon with Deputy Governor Timothy Lane

Join us as the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada addresses the St. John’s Board of Trade, speaking on “Bank of Canada: Promoting Canada’s Economic and Financial Well-Being”

Wine, Dine & Align Tastes of Fall 2010

Come join us for one of the most popular events of the year! This is a unique networking and social event where you can do business with others while enjoying an assortment of great foods and wines from local restaurants and beer, wine and liquor vendors.

Where: CLB Armoury, Harvey Road When: Thursday, September 30 Time: 5-7 pm Cost: $35 non-members

$25 with member discount

Where: Sheraton Hotel When: Wednesday, September 15 Time: 12:30 pm Networking

1 pm Luncheon Cost: $79 non-members

$39.50 with member discount

August 2010

Business News

We see the possibilities.

As a process operator at Suncor Energy, Dean Cleaver knows that responsible development is key to Suncor becoming a sustainable energy company. He is one of more than 12,000 Suncor employees committed to making it happen. Seeing the possibilities is how Suncor pioneered the development of Canada’s oil sands. It's also how we approach other energy resources from coast to coast and beyond. Now, we’re applying the same energy, innovation and commitment to ensure our operations deliver social and economic benefits while minimizing environmental impact. See the possibilities for yourself – take a look at our record.

8

decrease in % Terra Nova’s GHG emissions from 2008

27

%

reduction in surface water withdrawal at oil sands operations since 2004

1.2

$

billion

actual and planned investments in new tailings technology

energy innovation commitment

Find out more about Suncor’s track record and how we are planning to responsibly develop North America’s energy supply. www.suncor.com/sustainability

Membership member news Member awarded “Fellow” distinction

Members named finalists for Award

Bob Tipple has been awarded the distinction of “Fellow” of the Appraisal Institute of Canada at a recent Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Institute in Victoria, BC. “Fellows” of the Appraisal Institute of Canada are designated members who have distinguished themselves by their exemplary contributions to the profession.

This is demonstrated by a high level of excellence and achievement which has contributed to the advancement of the profession.

Bob is a MUN graduate, BA (1972), and has been involved at both the provincial and national levels of the Appraisal Institute of Canada for over 30 years including six years on the Board of Directors as Director, Newfoundland and Labrador. He is only the second Newfoundlander to be awarded this distinction. Bob recently retired from Altus Group after a 36 year career as a professional real estate appraiser and continues to be involved in the profession and in the community.

St. John’s Board of Trade member organizations, Hickman Motors, Other Ocean and Shannahan’s Investigation and Security, have been named Atlantic finalists for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Bert and Jonathan Hickman of Hickman Motors are up for the award in the business-to-consumer products and

services category. Andrew Ayre of Other Ocean Interactive, a St. John’s-based software company, is a finalist in the media and entertainment division. Lyndon Quinton of Shannahan’s, a Mount Pearl security firm, is vying for the award in the business-to-business products and services category.

“These are the people who can continue to drive growth beyond the Atlantic region Continued on next page...

We’re opening new doors WorleyParsons Canada Services Ltd. and its INTECSEA Canada Division are pleased to announce the expansion of our services into Newfoundland and Labrador.

WorleyParsons is a leading global provider of professional services to the resources & energy sectors and complex process industries in four customer sector groups: Hydrocarbons, Power, Minerals & Metals, and Infrastructure & Environment.

For over 25 years, INTECSEA has provided frontier technology leadership for the energy industry’s most challenging offshore field development and pipeline projects.

Suite 604, Atlantic Place 215 Water Street St. John’s, Newfoundland +1 709 733 7080

www.worleyparsons.com www.intecsea.com

Bob Tipple 20

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August 2010

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Business News

Membership member news into other Canadian markets and ones throughout the world,” said Joyce Hoeven, Atlantic director of the awards.

Winners will be named in each category at a banquet in Halifax on October 19.

An overall Atlantic winner will represent the region in competition for the national award, which will be announced in Toronto in November.

Jumping Bean receives CBDC Award The St. John’s Board of Trade would like to congratulate Jeff LeDrew, owner of Jumping Bean Coffee Company, on receiving the 2010 CBDC Business Award of Distinction.

Jumping Bean Coffee (JBC) is a premium coffee roaster that offers the best blends and richest single origin coffees available.

Serving premium fresh coffee is the cornerstone of the business. The roast master selects and imports the finest raw coffee beans from around the world, and roasts them locally. JBC is also a supplier of many Fair Trade Certified products, including: coffee, tea, chocolate, rice, spices, and more. In addition to coffee JBC has expanded its portfolio to include specialty teas, Monin syrups, and a full line of Italian olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and other fine foods.

CBDC are proud supporters of small business development and job creation in Newfoundland and Labrador.

To learn more visit www.jumpingbean.ca or www.cbdc.ca.

PEGNL appoints new CEO and Registrar Geoff Emberley, P.Eng., has been appointed Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL).

Since joining PEGNL in 1975, Geoff has extensive engineering work experience.

He has also volunteered in a number of roles in addition to being a member of and chairing numerous committees. He has made an equally strong commitment to the national organization Engineers Canada Business News

as a member of the Board of Directors, Finance Committee, Government Relations Committee and Executive Committee.

Geoff has also received PEGNL’s Award for Service in 2002 for his dedicated service to the profession.

PEGNL regulate the engineering and geosciences professions. It exists so there is competent and ethical practice of engineering and geosciences in Newfoundland and Labrador and ensures public confidence in the professions.

Members ranked among Canada’s fastest growing Board of Trade members Marport Deep Sea Technologies Inc. and Mad Rock Marine Solutions have been ranked among Canada’s fastest growing companies in the 22nd annual PROFIT 100 by PROFIT Magazine.

Marport designs and manufactures a wide range of equipment that uses Continued on next page...

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August 2010

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Membership member news sound waves to create digital images for underwater sensing and communications.

According to an article in the most recent edition of the Magazine, clients include the U.S., Canadian and Swedish navies, oceanographers, offshore oil and gas producers, and more than 60 per cent of the world’s deep-sea fishing fleets. As an idea factory focused on those four vertical markets, Marport generated $10.7 million in revenue in 2009 — up by a sizzling

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5,234 per cent over the past five years.

A manufacturer of marine evacuation equipment, Mad Rock’s revolutionary RocLoc is a patented lifeboat hook that obtained regulatory approval after three years of research and development of eight prototypes. “What I really like about Mad Rock is that they’re building something small into something big,” says Oceanwide captain Klass Kapetijn in a recent article.

“Their release hook system is almost

August 2010

maintenance-free.” As word spreads, sales follow: projected revenue for the year ending March 31, 2009 is $2.7 million, up from $40,000 in fiscal 2006.

PROFIT 100 ranks the 100 fastestgrowing companies in Canada by percentage revenue growth from 2004 to 2009.

Business News

Membership MEMBER PROFILES

It’s estimated that some two million Canadians have kidney disease or are at risk of developing it; many of them don’t know it. Each day, 14 Canadians learn their kidneys have failed.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada is the national volunteer organization committed to reducing the burden of kidney disease.

The Foundation strives to improve the lives of all people affected by kidney disease by developing and sustaining programs in research, patient services, public education and organ and tissue donor awareness that are vital to kidney patients and their families.

For more information contact Nancy Hollett, provincial manager, at 753-8999 or n.hollett@nf.aibn.com.

The Lakeside at Thorburn is a new year round resort located at Thorburn Lake near Clarenville. Offering campgrounds, a motel and many activities, The Lakeside is a great destination for a family excursion, romantic get-away or corporate retreat.

Have fun this summer! Enjoy the gocarts, boats, pool and sandy beach.

Fall will bring an extended camping season, and special romantic getaway package. Join in the winter fun with snowmobiling, ice fishing, snow shoeing and more.

For more information join us on Facebook – “Win a night at The Lakeside” or call 1-877-330-3319.

“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”

Business News

Jack Welch Businessman, author & former CEO of General Electric August 2010

Signal Hill Gate is changing the way you live you when you are living away from home. This luxurious property in St. John’s vibrant downtown is just steps away from convenient access to scenic walking trails with spectacular views of Newfoundland’s rugged coastline. These suites feature modern furnishings, flat panel TVs with cable, wireless internet, fully equipped kitchens and in-suite laundry. With locations throughout Atlantic Canada, all suites are four stars and include all amenities. Take more of your life with you. Stay with Premiere Executive Suites!

To inquire contact Shelley Wilkins at 709739-8555 / toll free 1-866-739-8555 / www.premieresuites.com

Your go-to safety services provider Safety Services Newfoundland Labrador (formerly the Newfoundland and Labrador Safety Council) has been providing safety services across the province for over 50 years. We are a non-government, not-for-profit organization specializing in health and safety at work, on the road and in the community. SSNL is best known for its road safety services, including motorcycle and driver training. We are also the go-to organization for OHS training, including forklift operation, supervisor safety, OHS committees and other programs tailored to your specific needs. We make certain that your return is greater than your investment.

Challenge us with your difficult safety issues and give us a chance to solve them!

Go to www.safetyservicesnl.ca.

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Membership new members Quadratec Inc. Trevor Blackler Principal 430-434 Water Street, Suite 230 St. John’s, NL A1C 1E2 P: 738-0122 F: 738-0566 tblackler@quadratec.ca

WorleyParsons Canada Services Ltd. Marty Gaulin Vice President & General Manager 215 Water Street, Suite 604 P.O. Box 67 St. John’s, NL A1C 6C9 P: 753-7080 marty.gaulin@intecsea.com

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Offshore Technical Services Ltd. John Keirstead East Coast Sales & Marketing Coordinator 354 Water Street P.O. Box 2532 Stn “C” St. John’s, NL A1C 6K1 P: 722-6875 F: 902-564-6324 jkeirstead@otsl.ca

Festival 500 Corporation Janet Miller Festival Manager 68 Queens Road P.O. Box 2333 Stn ‘C’ St. John’s, NL A1C 6E6 P: 738-6013 F: 738-6014 www.festival500.com jmiller@festival500.com

The Children’s Wish Foundation Edie Newton Chapter Director 66 Kenmount Road, Suite 304 St. John’s, NL A1B 3V7 P: 789-9474 F: 726-9474 edie.newton@childrenswish.ca

August 2010

Business News

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