The Opposition wants to know who’s calling the shots after former premier Danny Williams admitted that he donated close to $47,000 to the PC election campaign last year to stop the Churchill Falls MOU.
Williams was also behind a campaign that included a prominent billboard at Rawlins Cross urging voters to “Stop the Churchill Giveaway.”
The Opposition wants to know if the premier is prepared to “put a $225 billion opportunity” and the province’s future at risk for political gain.
The Liberal Party says Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve “transparency, not backroom influence.”
Danny Williams speaking with reporters in St. John’s on April 9, 2026 (VOCM News)
Williams unapologetic, says he’s glad he stepped in to stop the MOU
Williams says as a strong supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party, he was particularly motivated when the Liberals declared that the single most important election issue was the Churchill Falls MOU.
The former premier was unapologetic when speaking with reporters today.
“I’m quite proud of the fact that actually I stepped in” says Williams, “I’ll be honest with you, I’d say it’s probably the single biggest achievement I’ve had since I’ve been in politics was stopping that MOU. Which is not a good MOU.”
Williams says he was “adamantly opposed to almost every component of that MOU” claiming that it “dramatically benefitted Quebec while leaving Newfoundland and Labrador seriously disadvantaged.” Williams tells VOCM News that he felt compelled to do his part to support Premier Wakeham, and to ensure that the MOU was stopped.
Benjamin Oates (VOCM News)
MOU supporter calls Williams’ actions a ‘frustrating betrayal’
A proponent of the Churchill Falls MOU calls Williams’ actions to scuttle the deal a “frustrating betrayal.”
Ben Oates of Force NL accused Williams of playing “on people’s suspicions and fears” about making another hydro deal with Quebec on VOCM Open Line.
Oates believes Williams helped to squander the deal, affecting Newfoundlanders and Labradorians today and for generations to come.
“Because he wasn’t the one who signed the deal, he’s giving away $243 billion of not his money, not your money (Open Line host) Tim (Powers), my money, my kid’s money, my grandchildren’s money.”
“The $243 billion figure comes from the fact that we’re going to lose $225 billion from the MOU as it’s written right now, and the $18 billion we spent on Muskrat Falls. Which by the way, when the Muskrat Falls contract was signed, I was 10, so I didn’t have a chance to vote against it, I wish I did.”
The findings of a review panel examining the MOU between NL Hydro and Hydro Quebec on Upper Churchill expansion are due at the end of this month.
