The LeBlanc Commission had harsh words for Nalcor and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on how they treated Indigenous groups during the Muskrat Falls process. The authors of the “misguided project” were creating a whip for their own backside.

The protest of October 2016 was another situation which set the project back, but Commissioner LeBlanc has concluded that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador failed to ensure that it and Nalcor acted fairly in its consultations related to Indigenous peoples and environmental matters.

He says the government did not act appropriately from a fairness perspective with the Nunatsiavut Government, the NunatuKavut Community Council and the Innu.

The Inquiry concludes that government and Nalcor created an environment of mistrust and suspicion by not allowing all of the Indigenous peoples and other concerned citizens to engage in a meaningful and transparent consultation process.

NunatuKavut Community Council Pleased with Report’s Findings

The NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) says the Muskrat Falls Inquiry final report concludes that they were never adequately consulted.

The NCC says they are pleased with the findings of the final report from Commissioner Justice Richard Leblanc.

During testimony, NCC President Todd Russell described the intentional lack of engagement with NCC before and after project sanctioning.

They NCC says their participation in the inquiry highlighted how the province and Nalcor failed to build a relationship of trust and respect with NCC throughout the project, and the negative consequences of that failure. They say this was clearly validated in the report.

The NCC says they will continue to work with Nalcor and government to build meaningful and respectful relationships and the Indigenous rights of NunatuKavut Inuit are to be respected on any future development happening in the area.