Dozens of Newfoundland and Labrador residents participated Thursday in a public meeting organized by the province’s New Democratic Party (NDP) regarding the agreement in principle with Quebec on the Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant.
Participants questioned the appropriateness of the announcement less than a year before the provincial elections.
It’s so imposed and rushed and it worries me
said thus Norm Mercer. It is for our generation, the generation of our children and our grandchildren. This is a massive project
he adds.
Open in full screen mode
Norm Mercer finds the decision hasty.
Photo : - / Maddie Ryan
Norm Mercer does not want the politics of the day to interfere in the debate and is awaiting more details from the agreement in principle announced on December 12.
A debate next week
Gabe Gregoryanother Newfoundlander, is surprised that MPs have to position themselves on this agreement only a few weeks after the announcement when they are summoned to the House of Assembly next week to discuss it.
We’re going to ask people to debate for three or four days then high five and leave. It’s completely irresponsible, it’s madness
he said.
We have no room for error. We are talking about the future of Newfoundland.
The agreement provides in particular for an increase in the cost paid by Hydro-Québec to acquire the electricity produced by Churchill Falls.
Open in full screen mode
The Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, as well as his counterpart from Newfoundland and Labrador, Andrew Furey, announced with great fanfare a new agreement in principle in Saint-Jean, on December 12, 2024, which should yield no less of “$200 billion” to each of the two partners, according to their calculations. (Archive photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Paul Daly
If the agreement is signed, the power of the plant will gradually increase while a new plant will be built on the same reservoir.
The cautious NDP
On Thursday, the head of NPD provincial, Jim Dinnsaid he had not yet decided whether he would support the deal. He calls for an independent evaluation of this agreement.
Is it economically viable?
The chosen one says he still has hangover
after the problems with the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project.
The Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is hosting an online public meeting on the subject Friday afternoon with its leader Tony Wakeham.
With information from Maddie Ryanof CBC
Swiss
