Of Lobbyists and Accountability

As Sue's Blog talked about last month - Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro has engaged a lobbyist out of Ottawa to deal with the feds on the Lower Churchill development. Timothy Powers VP Summa Strategies and a Stephen Harper Conservative strategist and talking head has been employed by NLH to lobby:

The Prime Minister's Office, Environment Canada, Finance Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, National Energy Board, Natural Resources Canada

lobbying for:

Assistance related to the Lower Churchill Project. Development of National East-West energy grid

using the following techniques:

Arrange one or more meetings, Meetings, Written communications, whether in hard copy or electronic format, Telephone calls, Informal communications

Danny still refuses to tell us why this is happening and why he needs an Ottawa and Conservative flunky to deal with the PMO and fed departments to talk about the Lower Churchill. Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro has not released how much we are paying this individual and how much progress he has made.

No openness and no accountability!

From a government perspective John Fitzgerald our "non-talking head" in Ottawa should be able to set up meetings - have informal chats etc. regarding the Lower Churchill development - we pay him to do such things. Secondly we have a Minister of Natural Resources who is employed to do that. Thirdly we have the CEO of Hydro Ed Martin who is employed to do that. On top of all this we have Danny appointee Dean MacDonald who could and should do this - especially considering his close relationship with Tobin - the corporate and federal golden boy. If all that is not enough the Premier can talk to the Prime Minister. In light of all this "talent" - who needs a Tim Powers to have informal chats. The boys and girls I have mentioned above can swing a golf club right?

From Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's perspective - it is an energy company with a membership in the Canadian Hydropower Association.This Association employs both in-house and external federal lobbyists to promote the development of hydropower for the members.

Example:

Pierre Fortin is the president of the CHA and is a registered federal lobbyist. Under his documentation is the following:

THE CANADIAN HYDROPOWER ASSOCIATION'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE RESPONSIBLE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE CANADIAN HYDROPOWER INDUSTRY. THE PRINCIPAL VOICE OF CANADA'S HYDROPOWER INDUSTRY, THE CHA TAKES AN ACTIVE ROLE IN FORMULATING AND SHAPING PUBLIC POLICIES RESPONSIVE TO THE INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS. THE PRINCIPAL MANDATE OF THE CHA IS TO PROMOTE HYDROPOWER NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AS A SOURCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, TO MAKE THE ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANTAGES OF HYDROPOWER BETTER KNOWN AND TO PUBLICIZE THE BENEFITS OF HYDROPOWER IN THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS. THE CHA MEMBERS REPRESENT 95% OF THE HYDRO GENERATING CAPACITY IN CANADA

Any results from this yet Ed? Have you engaged the Association you are a member of to forward our policies? What about the Lower Churchill? How about the east-west grid?

Why is NLH employing Summa and Timothy Powers?

How much are they paying the company?

What results have they achieved?

What meetings have been arranged?

Who attended the meetings?

What informal discussions have taken place?

What was discussed?

Has Summa or Timothy Powers submitted a written progress report for NLH?

What has Ed Martin directed him to do?

Why was a federal Conservative strategist and defender of Stephen Harper been hired to forward our position on the Lower Churchill?

Let's see how accountable the Premier wants to be...