"Unnatural resources?": parallels and distinctions between the Newfoundland Genome and traditional resource sectors.

Abstract

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) has a long history of resource development, exploitation, and frequent mismanagement. Even before joining the Canadian confederation in 1949, industries such as mining, fishing, and forestry had significantly shaped the province. Recently, a new "resource" has been recognized: NL's genetic data, often described as a "genetic gold mine" and "the new oil." These analogies reflect the perception of genetic data as a valuable resource, resonating in a province historically reliant on resource extraction. Since the early 2000s, NL's genetic data has been recognized as a unique asset, prompting provincial reports on its management. Renewed interest has emerged with a local biotechnology company aiming to leverage NL's unique genetic architecture. This paper examines the implications of conceptualizing genetic information as a resource, exploring how this fits within existing resource development frameworks and policies, and considering its potential to shape policies for managing the benefits and burdens of genetic data exploitation. I conclude that while the NL genome is not a natural resource in the traditional sense, the province nevertheless needs to take more direct responsibility for its development and to ensure that any potential benefits from exploiting it are shared with the population.