FORCE NL, a coalition of concerned students and young professionals, is hoping to put a number of questions to the minister of energy regarding the status of the Churchill Falls MOU.
The group has heard from Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott who indicates government will not accept the current agreement “without rigorous scrutiny.”
Minister Lloyd Parrott’s response to FORCE-NL’s letter to the premier
An Independent Review Committee, formed last month, has four months to complete its determination as to whether or not the deal is in the best long-term interest of the province. Then its findings will be put to the general population in a referendum.
FORCE-NL is concerned that any delays in finalizing the plan will put the deal in jeopardy with a Quebec election due this fall.
Chair Ben Oates says they’re hoping to meet with the minister in the coming weeks to discuss a number of key concerns.
“Is your objective to get this project developed and get upwards of a billion dollars a year over the course of the project flowing to the provincial coffers and pay for all of the things that this new government is promising to do? Is that your objective? Or is your objective to kill the deal? If it’s not this deal we’re going to develop, if it’s not Hydro Quebec that we’re going to partner with, what is your alternative?” asks Oates.
