This is not a debate, this is a sales pitch, selling the unsellable Mr. Speaker, that’s exactly what this is.”
The MHA for Lake Melville rose in the House of Assembly today and roundly condemned the latest agreement with Quebec on Churchill Falls, outlining the reasons why he quit caucus and why he’ll be voting against the deal.
Keith Russell dropped a political bombshell just as debate in the House of Assembly was about to get underway on Monday, crossing the floor to sit as an independent.
Listen to “Independent MHA Keith Russell speaks in the HoA” on Spreaker.
Today he had his opportunity to explain the reasons behind that decision, referencing the way in which the provincial government treated the Innu Nation in a recent dispute over their historic presence in Labrador.
“We have to talk about this project being on Innu land, and the Innu Nation should be respected during this process, and they have not been. I can say that this government has given them the ultimate disrespect in challenging their identity and their history in Labrador.”
Russell also cited the serious social issues Happy Valley-Goose Bay has been facing since the development of the Muskrat Falls project.
“We’re in chaos and we’re in crisis in Lake Melville right now and our children are dying. We have violence, we have violent crime. We don’t have enough resources, we don’t have enough infrastructure, we don’t have enough people. We have murders, and people walking the streets with shotguns that are commonplace Mr. Speaker. This is not good enough in today’s society. For a year I’ve asked this government for help. What do we get? Nothing! Lip service, over and over and over again.”
