Former Premier Danny Williams is touting the role he played in killing the $225 billion Churchill Falls MOU, calling it his “single biggest achievement” since entering politics.
“It is astonishing that a former premier is bragging that his greatest achievement is denying Newfoundland and Labrador over $225 billion in revenue that would have been transformational for our province today and into the future,” says Energy Critic Fred Hutton. “Mr. Williams gave us Muskrat Falls and the $14 billion in crippling debt associated with it. He is the last person who should be offering advice on hydroelectric projects.”
While the former premier celebrates the death of this generational deal, one that would have terminated the lopsided 1969 agreement that has haunted Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for decades, the current Premier has been silent.
“Is Mr. Williams delivering messages on behalf of Premier Wakeham? How does Mr. Williams know the MOU is dead, and why hasn’t the current Premier provided Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with an official update?” says Opposition Leader John Hogan. “If the deal is dead, why is the current Premier wasting time and resources on a review committee whose work would be irrelevant?”
Premier Wakeham must do one of two things: either explicitly deny Mr. Williams’ assertion that the deal is dead, or immediately stop wasting resources on the biased review committee, given the result is already known.
The Official Opposition is calling on the review committee to immediately provide the province with an update, and for Premier Wakeham to finally tell Newfoundlanders and Labradorians what he thinks of the MOU, given Mr. Williams’ recent public comments. It has been almost a year and a half since the MOU was signed, and to date, the current Premier has walked out of the House of Assembly rather than vote, provided “no comment,” or deferred his responsibilities to a panel. This is not leadership.
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