Muskrat Falls review deeper in N.S. than N.L., Ball says
Government rejects criticisms outlined in legislature by Liberal leader
Opposition Liberal Leader Dwight Ball says the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project will get a more extensive review by the utilities board in Nova Scotia than it will in Newfoundland and Labrador.
However, the Newfoundland and Labrador government is batting aside those concerns, saying the hydro megaproject has been reviewed enough already.
Ball says Nova Scotia power company Emera expects to file with that province’s Utility and Review Board late this year. The board will then take six to 10 months to complete its review, examining the cost of Muskrat Falls to Nova Scotia ratepayers.
"The fact of the matter is that the premier would not allow the PUB to look at other alternatives, or even discuss the effect Muskrat Falls will have on ratepayers in this province," Ball said during question period in the legislature.
'Why are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians getting less of a review of the project than Nova Scotians, when we have the most to lose?' —Opposition Leader Dwight Ball
"Why are Newfoundlanders and Labradorians getting less of a review of the project than Nova Scotians, when we have the most to lose?"
Natural Resources Minister Jerome Kennedy said the project has been reviewed for 40 years, with other alternatives like wind and natural gas being screened out of the running.
"You don’t need to do extensive studies," he replied. "You don’t need to go out and pay thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars to see the obvious ... Muskrat Falls is the best option."
Ball stressed that the PUB in this province should be given the opportunity to explore other options to satisfy the province’s power demands.
'Best option'
"What options are you talking about?" Kennedy replied. "What is it you want us to explore? We have explored everything. Muskrat Falls is the lowest-cost and best option to secure the future of this province."
Newfoundland and Labrador’s PUB has complained it is not getting the time it needs to properly review the $6.2-billion megaproject.
The government declined to extend a March 31 deadline for the completion of the board’s final report.
The time crunch led the PUB to scrap planned public hearings across the province, instead only holding hearings in St. John’s.