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The Canadian Press

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HALIFAX - Newfoundland and Labrador will give the green light to the $5-billion Hebron offshore oil project Wednesday, setting off a long-awaited construction boom that's expected to bring a small army of skilled, young workers back to the province over the next three years.

Calvin Farewell, 27, hopes to be among them.

The Newfoundlander currently commutes each month to work in the tarsands near Fort McMurray, Alta. He said he's eager to learn details of how much work the oil consortium will be required to carry out at the shipyard in his hometown of Marystown.

Like hundreds of other young people from the province, Farewell works in the West when the shipyard is closed.

"I hope that (Premier) Danny Williams has done all he can in his power to secure work," he said.

"Whether this comes in a year or two, or in two days' time, I'm coming back here."

Last year, an agreement was signed between the province and Chevron Canada Resources, ExxonMobil, Petro-Canada and Norsk Hydro.