For Immediate Release
December 17, 2024
NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) wrote the Premier today calling for more lead time before the debate on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Churchill Falls.
The Premier confirmed that there will be a debate in the House of Assembly on the newly announced MOU for Churchill Falls on January 6, 2025. Dinn says having a debate is necessary for transparency, however, he says there is not enough time for opposition to do diligent consultation and outreach.
“We have called for this special debate and see it as integral to transparency. However, we are asking for time to do the research in the interest of transparency to be able to participate in a knowledgeable and informed debate,” Dinn wrote. “Up until yesterday, Monday, December 16, we were only able to assess the deal based on media stories, the government website, and the actual Memorandum of Understanding. While you and your government have been involved with the discussions surrounding this MOU for years, we have had only days to inform ourselves and digest the details of the deal.”
Dinn is calling on government to push the debate to March 3, 2025 before the legislated House sitting, or even later in January so all members of the House of Assembly have a change to do fulsome consultation for a meaningful debate.
A copy of the letter follows.
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
December 17, 2024
Andrew Furey, Premier
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Confederation BuildingSt. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
Dear Premier Furey,
Respectfully, I ask that the special debate on the Churchill Falls Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be postponed from its current date of January 6, 2025, but held before the scheduled opening of the House of Assembly on March 3, 2025. This important deal deserves to be debated thoroughly.
We have called for this special debate in the House of Assembly and see it as integral to transparency. However, we are asking for time to do the research in the interest of transparency to be able to participate in a knowledgeable and informed debate. Up until yesterday, Monday, December 16, we were only able to assess the deal based on media stories, the government website, and the actual Memorandum of Understanding. While you and your government have been involved with the discussions surrounding this MOU for years, we have had only days to inform ourselves and digest the details of the deal.
I was not invited to the announcement, nor did my caucus and I receive a technical briefing until yesterday by representatives from NL Hydro. It was informative but it raised more questions. We have received emails from informed citizens with concerns and questions regarding the project. We had hoped to do further research and consultations and have reached out to independent experts. With three weeks before the debate on January 6, 2025 (two of which are Christmas Holidays) it will be challenging to arrange the meetings we need.
We would like to draw your attention to the March 2020 report by the Honourable Richard LeBlanc that was commissioned by the Liberal government entitled: Muskrat Falls: A Misguided Project. Particularly to the first two recommendations:
1. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador should never undertake, on its own or through one of its Crown corporations or agencies, the planning, approval or construction of any large project (meaning a project with a budget of $50 million or more) without:
a. Engaging independent external experts to provide robust review, assessment and analysis of the project.
b. Providing well-defined oversight after consideration of oversight processes instituted in other jurisdictions.
2. The Public Utilities Board should review the proposed business case, reliability, cost and schedule of any large project that could potentially impact Newfoundland and Labrador electricity ratepayers. Following this review, the Public Utilities Board should report its findings to the government and the public.
We have not heard a positive response to ensuring any independent oversight or going to the Public Utilities Board. This is just an example of the many questions we have concerning the proposed deal.
As members of the New Democratic Party opposition, we have a duty to the people of the province and we wish to do right by them and exercise due diligence to make sure we understand all aspects of the proposal before we support it.
We ask that you postpone the special debate until later in January or prior to the scheduled opening of the House of Assembly on March 3, 2025.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
James Dinn, M.H.A.
St. John's Centre
NDP Leader
/cc Tony Wakeham, MHA, Stephenville-Port au Port, Leader of the Opposition
John Hogan, Minister, Health and Community Services, House Leader