Muskrat Falls debate and decision delayed until fall

Premier Kathy Dunderdale says a house of assembly debate on Muskrat Falls will likely be delayed until fall, when a final decision on whether to sanction the project will also be made.

Dunderdale says the delay will give Manitoba Hydro International time to do an analysis of the final numbers for the potential hydro megaproject. It will also give MHAs time to assess that work.

"We want to make sure that the opposition has enough time to look at that documentation before we go to debate," the premier told reporters Wednesday.

"So the earliest time we’re going to get into the house of assembly for the Muskrat Falls debate, I expect, is going to be early fall."

Earlier this month, the premier announced that the legislature would hold a special debate on the hydro megaproject.

The move came just days after her natural resources minister flatly rejected the possibility, questioning the ability of opposition MHAs to provide quality debate.

The premier’s reversal of course came in the wake of a critical Public Utilities Board report. The PUB said it lacked sufficient information to determine whether Muskrat Falls is the best long-term power option for Newfoundland.

The debate was originally expected to happen during a special session of the legislature this summer.