Former Premier Danny Williams believes the former Liberal government was “bamboozled” by Quebec, and calls stopping the Churchill River MOU one of his “single greatest achievements.”

It was revealed that Williams contributed nearly $47,000 to the PC election campaign and was behind a prominent billboard urging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to “Stop the Churchill giveaway.”

Williams is unapologetic in getting involved in the last election campaign, saying he wanted to make sure “another Liberal government doesn’t give away the Upper Churchill.”

He denied holding any particular sway, having left politics years ago.

He told reporters he believes the Liberals were “bamboozled” by Quebec.

“I’m here as a Newfoundlander and Labradorian, I’m no longer political, and I’m here to express an opinion because I feel very strongly about the Upper Churchill,” he told reporters.

“The Upper Churchill was actually one of the main reasons I got into politics in the first place, to be honest. When I looked at how bad this deal was, I was dumfounded. They were bamboozled by the Quebec government.”

Williams provided the independent review panel examining the MOU with a seven page submission outlining his concerns. The panel is scheduled to deliver it’s findings to the public by the end of the month.

He calls his submission a “detailed checklist.”

“I have set out a framework, a checklist, in which I have all the things that were important to me, even potential things like the Quebec border, equal rights, and the fact that if there is any new wording, we would like to get the same benefits that Quebec gets. The price, the transmission, the recall rights, all the things that are missing in this contract, and what needs to be in order to prepare for a new, detailed negotiation.”

Williams’ Submission to Review Panel Made Public

A copy of Williams’ submission to the Churchill Falls MOU independent review panel has been released outlining his concerns with the framework of the agreement among other things.

Williams contends that the extension of the Upper Churchill contract should be disentangled from separate matters like the development of Gull Island, maintenance upgrades, and the construction of an additional powerhouse at the Upper Churchill.

He also believes that any negotiation with Hydro Quebec should contain reciprocal transmission access through both provinces if feasible.

Williams also questioned NL Hydro’s “minimal recall” from the overall projects within the MOU, with no transmission access for Hydro Quebec. That, according to Williams, will mean that recalled power will “inevitably” be re-purchased by Hydro Quebec at an “undefined amount,” something he calls “unacceptable.”

He contends that the MOU “does not have a proper escalation clause” that enables the province to achieve actual market price.

He believes that the provincial government should conduct a “detailed financial analysis of the value of its existing Churchill power assets, including Muskrat Falls,” as well as its potential future renewable energy and hydro assets to maximize its leverage and position.

He says models should be developed to ensure that Newfoundland and Labrador “is not committed to mostly fixed pricing, but garners the benefit of value based on real market access and pricing to end users.

Williams also believes that any agreement should be first structured so as to ensure the province has maximum equalization and taxation revenues from the Churchill River and its projects, together with the appropriate allocations to dividends, royalties or otherwise.

Read full submission here: FINAL Independent Churchill River Panel submission (2)

Group in Support of MOU Wants Williams to Prove MOU is a Bad Deal for NL

Ben Oates of Force NL, a group that supports the MOU, told VOCM Open Line he wants to see proof that the deal reached between Hydro Quebec and NL Hydro amounts to a “giveaway.”

“Nobody has been able to give a solid answer as to why it’s a giveaway, except for the fact that Danny Williams does not like Quebec. Period.”