Dozens of N.L. residents voice concerns over tentative Churchill Falls deal during NDP town hall

Dozens of residents participated in an NDP town hall Thursday evening in St. John's to voice their questions and concerns about a new tentative Churchill Falls hydro deal with Quebec. 

NDP Leader Jim Dinn began the event by saying he suffers from a "hangover" due to the troubles surrounding the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project. 

"I've got to put away my partisan hat, put my critic hat on, and ask the question, 'Will this make economic sense?'' he said. 

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and Quebec Premier François Legault announced the terms of a memorandum of understanding in December.

The MOU, if sanctioned by its 2026 target, would deliver more than $200 billion to Newfoundland and Labrador over five decades. 

The agreement would overwrite a contentious 65-year contract that expires in 2041.

The new agreement includes provisions that Newfoundland and Labrador has long sought, including significantly greater revenue from hydroelectric sales, recall rights, development of the Gull Island megaproject and — years down the road — an escalator clause that will increase annual revenue payments.

One of the most repeated concerns during Thursday's town hall was the possibility of the new deal becoming an election issue. 

"This is so scripted and so rushed, and it leaves me with a lot of concerns," said resident Norm Mercer. "This is all about our generation, our children's generation and our grandchildren. It's a massive project."

Mercer told the crowd that politics has to be taken out of the question when debating the MOU and that politicians and the public need more details before that can happen.

Dinn said the province has a rocky history with megaprojects and it will take time before he can decide whether the new Churchill Falls agreement is a good deal. He's also calling for an independent review of the MOU.

The House of Assembly will debate the MOU on Monday, the reason behind the NDP's forum on Thursday, said Dinn.

He said he wants to attend the debate with the knowledge of what concerns the public has about the new agreement.

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