The Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay says the Muskrat Falls development and all that it brought to the region has left his town “traumatized” and he expects greater planning and support ahead of any work on Churchill Falls or Gull Island.

Bert Pomeroy says Happy Valley-Goose Bay will see direct impacts from increased economic development and the town has a long way to go to ensure that it’s done right and the municipality is ready.

He says the social impacts of Muskrat Falls alone have had a lasting effect on the town, including mental health and addictions.

“We came out of Muskrat Falls traumatized by that development,” Pomeroy told Zack Power on the Tim Powers Show. “We’re still trying to pick up the pieces…and we’ll have lasting impacts from that development.”

“We received very little support from the provincial government at the time, and we have to ensure that our town won’t be traumatized as extensively as we were from Muskrat Falls.”

He says the town needs support to be ready to address housing needs, upgrades to road and water infrastructure and increased emergency response.