The province’s Natural Resources Minister couldn’t say much about Justice Richard Leblanc’s report on the Muskrat Falls Inquiry when speaking to media today.
The report titled Muskrat Falls: A Misguided Project is made up of six volumes—including volumes on pre- and post-sanction. It is over 1,000 pages and presents findings and recommendations related to the inquiries Terms of Reference.
Minister Siobhan Coady hasn’t had the chance to review the report yet and couldn’t say much about what it entailed. However, she claims it will be in the public’s hands in a matter of days, hopefully sometime next week.
The report is titled “Muskrat Falls: A Misguided Project”.
Coady believes the title is fitting. She adds that Muskrat is responsible for 30% of the provinces debt.@VOCMNEWS #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/lVam0R64VU
— Ben Murphy (@VOCMBen) March 5, 2020
She says she has been advised that the report must be reviewed for legal sensitivities related to legal interests. That will be done by the Department of Justice.
Coady believes it is prudent and responsible for the government to do so, and protect the interests of the people of the province.
They’re not anticipating any redactions or deferrals of information. Should there be, Coady states they will have a process in place.
The inquiry had a budget of roughly $34-million, Coady says it was completed 50 per cent under budget.
Earlier Story
The final report on the Muskrat Falls Inquiry is now in the hands of government.
Commissioner Richard LeBlanc presented the report to Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady today.
It is now up to the government to decide when the report will be released. Minister Coady will address the issue with the media just before the lunch hour today.
The report has six volumes:
- 1) Executive Summary, Key Findings and Recommendations
- 2) Pre-Sanction Events
- 3) Post-Sanction Events
- 4) Looking Forward
- 5) Appendices
- 6) Exhibit Listing
The inquiry heard time and again that people who should have known the full extent of their decisions did not. The project has been fraught with delays and cost over-runs.
When the decision is made by government to release the report publicly, it will be posted at the Muskrat Falls Inquiry website.