Months of delays in energy negotiations are now having consequences for Newfoundland and Labrador, as Hydro-Québec signaled today it is looking beyond our province for future power supply, issuing a request for information on electricity from offshore wind projects off the coast of Nova Scotia.
The Official Opposition has long warned that without Newfoundland and Labrador fully engaged in negotiations with Québec, Hydro-Québec would begin exploring other options to meet its growing electricity needs.
“Premier Wakeham has said time and time again that he doesn’t believe in ‘arbitrary’ deadlines. Unfortunately for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, deadlines are only arbitrary until you miss them, and time is indeed running out,” says Opposition Leader John Hogan. “Hydro-Québec was clear about the urgency of preparing for the future. Now that they’re looking to other Atlantic provinces for opportunities, our position in negotiations will be weakened.”
“The Premier and his Energy Minister are leaving $225 billion on the table,” says Energy and Mines critic Fred Hutton. “Stalled negotiations, repeated delays and a biased review panel are forcing Hydro-Québec to look elsewhere for a deal. This announcement from Hydro-Québec speaks volumes about their confidence in reaching an agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador.”
The Official Opposition believes Premier Tony Wakeham should admit, as Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott did last week, that they believe Newfoundlanders and Labradorians voted against the MOU in the provincial election, and as such have no intention of following through on this deal.
It’s time for Premier Wakeham to stop waiting for his biased review panel to give him an excuse to walk away, and instead be honest with the people of our province that he has no intention of seizing the generational opportunity available to us with the Churchill Falls MOU.
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