Opposition Leader John Hogan says it is unacceptable that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are once again learning about the status of negotiations over Churchill Falls from Quebec rather than from their own Premier.
Today’s reports quote Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette saying a new agreement is expected “very soon,” adding, “I’m pretty confident that we will get to a conclusion of this agreement pretty soon.” Meanwhile, Premier Tony Wakeham has offered no update to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador beyond saying he will speak with her while in Charlottetown for meetings.
This follows Tony Wakeham’s continued failure to confirm whether he will hold a referendum on the deal, as promised during the election, or when he will hold an emergency debate on an updated MOU, as our previous Liberal Government did. He has also failed to disclose who is advising him on this file, only confirming the involvement of Muskrat Falls-era Jerome Kennedy after being questioned by the Official Opposition in the House of Assembly.
“Churchill Falls is one of the most important files facing this province. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians shouldn’t have to rely on updates from Quebec to find out what’s happening,” says Hogan.
“This government owes people transparency. If negotiations are progressing toward an agreement, the Premier should be communicating directly with the people of this province, not leaving Quebec’s Premier to provide the updates.”
Hogan says the silence is part of a troubling pattern in which the government has failed to keep the public informed on a file of enormous economic importance.
“When it comes to Churchill Falls, Tony Wakeham needs to stop hiding behind closed doors. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve to hear from their own Premier first.”
-30-