The Opposition says it’s concerning that news on a possible agreement reached on a new MOU on Churchill Falls expansion has once again come from the Quebec media, rather than government.
La Presse broke the news last night, suggesting that a deal has been reached. According to the publication, Newfoundland and Labrador will gain a larger share of the energy produced over the life of the 50-year agreement, but that the remainder of the original MOU remains essentially the same.
Premier Tony Wakeham has long said he would not bow to “artificial” deadlines, but it was well understood in Quebec that the deal had to be reached before a fall provincial election is called.
Opposition Leader John Hogan says he’s concerned that once again, Quebec is controlling the narrative on what he says is the most important deal Newfoundland and Labrador will ever have.
Liberal Leader John Hogan and Premier Tony Wakeham
He (Premier Tony Wakeham) certainly campaigned on being open and transparent, and as we’ve said, it’s the most important deal Newfoundland and Labrador will ever have in its history, it’s important to get it right, and it’s important that there’s open communication with the people of the province about the status of the deal.”
“We need to move forward” says Hogan, “and we hope there’s a deal, and we hope there’s a good deal in place. We look forward to seeing the final details on that next week, and we’ll see what the premier has to say if there is in fact, a deal.”
The premier’s office will only say “significant progress” has been made in negotiations with the Quebec and federal governments, and as of last night, “no final deal has been signed.”
NDP Leader, Jim Dinn (VOCM News)
NDP accuses government of ‘wasting time’ and getting ‘jammed up’
NDP Leader Jim Dinn says while not a lot of detail is available, it appears as though the Premier has made a “U-turn” on a number of key issues in order to get a new MOU signed before the Quebec election.
Dinn echoed concerns raised by the Opposition that news of a deal is coming through Quebec media.
He says the PCs made a number of promises in attempting to renegotiate the previous MOU, and told VOCM Open Line host Brian Callahan, he wants to know what happened.
“They wasted so much time on this, playing politics. I don’t know if indeed what they promised was what they planned to live up to.”
“Keep in mind they made a number of (promises); that whatever deal is signed is going to be in the best interest of NL, they were opposed to a 50-year deal, they seemed to want to have more access to Gull Island, a greater percentage of the power revenue, the ability to wield power through Quebec, jobs and they were also promising a referendum on this.”
“And I can’t help but (think) that wasting time has sort of jammed them up, to the point that what we’re really asking is ‘who’s driving the bus on this?'”
Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse)
Federal government put pressure on both provinces to get the deal done says reporter
La Presse reporter Joël-Denis Bellavance says the governing Coalition Avenir wanted the deal done before the provincial election, and the federal government also wanted it resolved.
“There was also a lot of pressure from the federal government on both (provincial) governments, especially on Mr. Wakeham’s government to come up with a deal, because this is seen as a crucial element in the national strategy to double the production of clean energy in Canada by 2050.”
According to La Presse, The federal government is offering financial incentives to Newfoundland and Labrador with the extension of the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit, which includes a 15 per cent refundable tax credit to help finance major energy projects.
Bellavance says “there’s a lot at stake for everyone.”
“If that deal does not see the light of day, Quebec may not have enough power to meet the demand in the province and from industries.”
