Sue's Blog

Friday, October 20, 2006

Everything is a Secret - Why?

On the whole INCO situation in Placentia/Argentia - and indemnity requests - we are all missing some information.
After speaking with an interested municipal party - I am to understand that the feds have provided general indemnity for clean-up at the old American Base. So then what is needed by the Company and is it reasonable?
The Premier is full of negative rhetoric regarding the whole Voisey's Bay deal and it is - in his own interest - that the deal fail. It is therefore difficult to determine - from anything he or any of his clones are saying - if INCO was being stubborn for unknown reasons or was in fact doing what is in the best interest of the project and thereby Newfoundland and Labrador.
Through a little bit of research - interviews with anonymous parties - the problem is significant and the feds felt it was unreasonable to take excessive risks - when another site was viable.
Consider this - if INCO began construction of the commercial plant and ran into a massive clean-up situation - and that clean-up - although the costs would be covered by the feds - took 2 years to complete - who would compensate the province - company - and workers for lost time and profits? What would happen at the mine and mill in Labrador for that time-frame? Would everybody be sent home?
Is this what is going on?
Well I went to find out. I asked the Department of Natural Resources for a copy of what the province asked the feds for and also a copy of the current indemnity provided by Ottawa. This seems a fair and reasonable request - in an effort to determine the "real" not "Danny says it's a bad deal" situation.
I was told I would have to make an application under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and pay a fee of $5. The Department Official was kind enough to provide a link to the application form and give me a contact name.
Why is this information not public? Why must a concerned citizen with valid questions be subject to this process? Why is this secret Danny?
Will this reveal that Danny is just continuing his campaign of fear against Voisey's Bay? Is it more important that he be right - than have a successful project?
You should ask these questions - especially in light of the recent statements by Danny - who now says the Agreement is not strong enough to guarantee the plant be built in the province - anywhere.
Okay Danny show me where - in the contract - is language that causes you concern regarding the Company's legal obligation to build a secondary processing plant for nickel in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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