Premier Dwight Ball says the province needs to know the options available to them when it comes to rate mitigation for Muskrat Falls, by January.
Ball was in Ottawa on Tuesday for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and says it was a good meeting with progress made.
Premier Ball says his number one priority was rate mitigation but they had a broad discussion on a number issues including natural resources and pharmacare.
Ball says they’re looking at a “bundle of options” that would be available. He says they want various options so government can attain sustainable electricity rates in the province. Ball says both he and the PM inherited the project, but nevertheless, they are the government of the day and their responsibility is to get rates under control.
Ball says by the end of January the want the ability to say to people that rates will not be doubling.
The Premier says they can say that now, but are not quite at a point specifically “drill down” option one, two or three. He says the commitment from the Prime Minister has been unwavering, and he will be there standing up for the province so rates do not double.
Meanwhile, Ball will meet with all of Canada’s premiers in Toronto next week.
When asked if he was willing to discuss changes to the equalization formula, Ball says they’re picking the wrong target.
Ball says we need a program that can respond to the needs of a province like Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta and Saskatchewan. He says the focus has to be on howto bring benefits to all of Canada.
He believes all premiers understand that.
As one of the only Liberal premiers, Ball still doesn’t feel any pressure to telegraph what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might be hoping to get out of the meeting.
Premier Ball says he walks in the room as Newfoundlander and Labradorian, and Canadian. He doesn’t go in wearing any colour shirt. Ball says he goes in wearing a Canadian jersey with a Newfoundland and Labrador label on it.
Ball and all of Canada’s premiers will meet in Toronto on Monday.
