NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) wrote the Premier today highlighting the NDP’s recommendations for the terms of reference of the MOU oversight panel.
After reaching an agreement with the Liberal government ensuring an arm’s length expert oversight panel for the Churchill Falls MOU, Dinn says it is important to continue the conversation and push for the recommendations that he believes will strengthen the work of the panel.
These recommendations include:
- Quarterly timelines for reporting have been agreed to. We expect the first quarterly report will be made before the end of the Spring session of the House of Assembly, and that the final quarterly report be presented at least a month before the signing of the definitive agreement;
- That the oversight panel will be able to hire outside consultants with financial, engineering and construction expertise comparable to that which the provincial government, NL Hydro and Hydro-Quebec have retained;
- That the panel shall have access to commercially sensitive documents to be able to verify that the assumptions and the numbers in the MOU are correct;
- That the panel be provided with the information necessary to ensure that the MOU is the best deal and that it be able to compare the alternatives identified during the course of the negotiations;
- That the panel shall take into consideration the questions, concerns and criticisms raised by the people of the province, MHAs in the House of Assembly and that there be the opportunity for further public consultation;
- That the panel shall make public all the findings and recommendations that it considers necessary, baring commercially sensitive information.
“We expect the government to act immediately if any issues are found by the expert oversight panel. We must protect the people of the province and do what is best for the future which you have stated is your intention.”
A copy of the letter and all recommendations follows.