Good afternoon everyone and welcome.

It's my absolute pleasure to be here among these distinguished guests - including representatives from EnCana, Laurentian Energy, Nabors Canada and their employees. The reason we're here is big. Really big. In fact, "the reason" stands 3x3x12 metres and weighs just under 19 tonnes. It's a container designed and forged in Nova Scotia destined for remote locations.

It's a massive section of a "heli-rig"; an onshore-drilling platform so huge, the world's largest helicopter must air-lift it piece by piece to its final destination.

Once there, this Nova Scotia-made container will be an important component in the onshore rig's daily operation. It will house generators and pumping equipment and hold drilling fluids.

But this container is already holding something invaluable..something that can't be weighed or measured.

It is tangible, solid proof that Nova Scotia's skilled workforce can adapt to meet the demands of the energy sector with quality product delivered on time.

It's proof that the Nova Scotia government can work with private industry to import skilled jobs instead of exporting our skilled workers.

And this container - it's a good thing it's strong - because it also holds the promise of future partnerships between energy giants and homegrown industries.

This 4.2 million dollar project could not have happened in Nova Scotia without the Offshore Strategic Energy Agreement signed last year by my government and EnCana.

In exchange for the right to extract natural gas from Deep Panuke, EnCana promised to help Nova Scotia generate new opportunities in the manufacturing sector. That's why EnCana approached Nabors Industries with the idea of using Nova Scotia labour to build components of its heli-rigs.

It's an innovative and creative way to ensure Nova Scotia remains the principal beneficiary of its offshore resources.

Here's the thing: The Offshore Strategic Energy Agreement that set this successful partnership in motion is based on another agreement. The Atlantic Accord. The deal we signed with the federal government. That economic development agreement is the foundation on which we want to build success stories like these.

It's imperative that all Nova Scotians - their elected representatives, business and industry - unite. We must demand that this province be given the same opportunity to achieve economic independence and contribute to this great country.

I congratulate everyone who helped make this success story happen.

To the dedicated Department of Energy staff and the folks at Encana; to the hard-working teams of Laurentian Energy, RKO Steel and Lynk Electric - I say thank you.

Thank you for showing the world the best Nova Scotia has to offer.