A retired political scientist and former advisor to the previous Liberal government is concerned with comments made by Premier Tony Wakeham in a recent national interview with CBC’s David Cochrane.

Steve Tomblin says questions were raised about the independence of Michael Wilson who is one of three people on the current independent review committee set up to examine the MOU with Hydro Quebec on the Upper Churchill.

Wilson famously quit the previous oversight panel, citing issues with the panel’s mandate.

Tomblin says the premier did not see Wilson’s inclusion on the current committee as a problem.

Tomblin claims the narrative that the current government appears to be developing on hydro development is one of conflict, and not collaboration.

He says it boils down to Newfoundland nationalism vs Quebec nationalism at a time when partisanship has been heightened by the Trump administration in the U.S. “This is being framed as zero sum vs positive sum and the zero sum is being highlighted.”