Kathleen Wynne tours Muskrat Falls, wants to 'work together' with N.L. on energy
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne got a chance to see the Muskrat Falls site up close on Tuesday, as Newfoundland and Labrador Paul Davis pitched his counterparts on renewable power.
Provincial and territorial leaders are in Happy Valley-Goose Bay to talk primarily about aboriginal issues on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Davis helped lead a tour of the Muskrat Falls megaproject, which is now under construction near the town.
After seeing the site, Wynne expressed interest in the potential of hydroelectric energy in Labrador.
"I try not to be jealous, I try and be constructive," she said.
"I try not to covet our neighbours' resources, but to find ways of working together."
Muskrat Falls is using <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cleantech?src=hash">#cleantech</a> to create clean energy. Provinces are committed to taking action on climate change. <a href="http://t.co/ZWBJtj3dsj">pic.twitter.com/ZWBJtj3dsj</a>
—@Kathleen_WynneWynne wasn't the only one having a look at the site on Tuesday, as some premiers went along to learn more as well.
The premiers will be sitting down to talk about a national energy strategy later this week in St. John's.
Before that happens, Davis and Nalcor CEO Ed Martin thought it would be useful to bring some of them to Muskrat Falls to see first-hand the concrete being poured for the giant spillways that will make up the dam.
Most of the power from the current project has already been spoken for in Atlantic Canadian markets. Upstream, the still undeveloped Gull Island project offers significantly more power potential— if Newfoundland and Labrador can attract more buyers.
With Ontario dealing with rising electricity prices lately, and scandals around cancelled power plants, there is hope that they may be interested in what's happening in Labrador.
Martin said the tour was a chance to show Wynne and the other premiers that Newfoundland and Labrador has power to export, and how it falls in line with the growing desire to get power from clean, renewable sources.
"We have a product that they would like to have," he said.
"I need to know Ontario's needs, and we'll do our best to fit our needs and then we'll land on what's the best commercial arrangement."