Newfoundland and Labrador’s Opposition Progressive Conservatives requested the premier right now to droop a vote on a draft vitality cope with Quebec’s hydro utility till it’s reviewed by unbiased specialists.
Occasion chief Tony Wakeham made the demand within the provincial legislature throughout Day 3 of a four-day debate in regards to the memorandum of understanding unveiled final month between each provinces’ public utility corporations.
Wakeham says an unbiased assessment would fulfil suggestions from a public inquiry into the disastrous Muskrat Falls hydroelectric venture in Labrador, which was accomplished in 2023 after years of delay and billions of {dollars} in price overruns.
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In response, Liberal Home Chief John Hogan mentioned any initiatives within the settlement that might have an effect on ratepayers can be reviewed by the province’s utility board — a step that didn’t occur for Muskrat Falls.
Premier Andrew Furey has additionally promised to assemble an unbiased knowledgeable panel to offer recommendation as Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro negotiates with Hydro-Québec on a remaining model of the settlement, anticipated in 2026.
Politicians are set to vote Thursday night time on the early draft of the deal, which might see Hydro-Québec pay way over it at the moment does for electrical energy from the Churchill Falls plant and develop extra hydroelectric initiatives with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 8, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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