Muskrat Falls opposition, calls for review growing
Posted Nov 19, 2012 06:09:40 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Debate over the pricey Muskrat Falls megaproject is expected to dominate the legislature in St. John’s,
Newfoundland when it reopens today.
And it looks like the 7.4-billion dollar project – billed as the heftiest public expenditure in Newfoundland and Labrador’s history – is set to go forward without committee scrutiny or even a special debate.
Critics of the plan to bring hydro power from Labrador to Newfoundland and then Nova Scotia say it should go before a regulated review – at the very least a legislative committee, and possibly even be put to a referendum.
The majority Progressive Conservative government has refused Opposition demands for a special debate or committee format that would include questioning expert energy witnesses.
Premier Kathy Dunderdale has rejected any regulatory review by the provincial Public Utilities Board, and her government is expected to officially approve Muskrat Falls in coming weeks.
But a growing grassroots movement calling itself the People’s Assembly will host events over the next week in protest.