The Opposition has no knowledge of what the Upper Churchill deal, set to be announced this afternoon at 1:45, looks like but the addition of a 15 per cent rebate on electricity bills has raised questions about what concessions Newfoundland and Labrador might have made.

Opposition energy critic Fred Hutton says leaked information on a rebate leads to questions about what may have been given up in the negotiation process.

“The leaks that come out aren’t going to be any of the bad things that would be noted by reporters or by opposition that would be questionable, it would be the good stuff” says Hutton.

“My question, right off the bat, would be; is this, because of the federal government’s involvement, is this why Premier Wakeham will not do a referendum? He hasn’t spoken about that at al, but he was adamant in the beginning, that there was going to be a referendum on any deal that was reached.”

Le Journal de Quebec reporting NL will be able to sell surplus power to U.S, but Hydro-Quebec will remain the ‘essential intermediary’

Le Journal de Quebec is reporting that Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to sell surplus power to the U.S., but that Hydro-Quebec remains the essential intermediary. That means, that NL will only negotiate with Hydro-Quebec and “will have to pay them the costs of transporting electricity to foreign markets.”

Hutton says the Opposition has long said that it will support any deal that is as good as the previous MOU, or better.

VOCM News will cover today’s event live at 1:45.