The Muskrat Falls/Emera deal - are you listening MHA's, Media, Opposition

There are times in our lives when a matter is of such importance to the future of Newfoundland and Labrador that we all must step to the plate and be heard.

This is one of those times and the people and politicians of our province must take a measured look by barring all normal and professional prejudices - and fight for what is right.

The proposed Emera deal on the development of Muskrat Falls including transmission infrastructure is flawed and dangerous - it must be held up to the light and every word exposed. When we all have the information necessary to make a decision - then we may move forward or return to the drawing board.

For those of you who follow my blog or have followed my commentaries on energy projects over the past 20 years - you know that if I am concerned there is good reason. I have no interest in playing partisan politics in this circumstance. Primarily that is why partisans cannot look me in the face - but rather attempt to shut me up by attacking me privately to others and behind my back.

The lack of support by many people - involved in Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's advancement over the past two decades -  including myself should send a clear warning to others that something is terribly wrong. The letter in the Telegram this weekend by John Collins, former Minister of Finance for the PC's - should reemphasize the concerns that many of us have regarding this proposed project.

There are fundamental questions that need specific answers and there are fundamental concerns that need to be addressed. This is not a time for PC MHA's to abandon the true calling to public office - but rather a time to show individual strength and demonstrate that they represent the people not a party, or leader, or past leader, or any particular corporate interest.

As was the case with the Voisey's Bay development deal - the government of the day has the technical mandate to proceed with this development without seeking the approval from the House of Assembly. However, as was also the case with Voisey's Bay - the government should not feel it has a real mandate until true and thorough debate has been completed in the people's legislature.

Danny Williams and Kathy Dunderdale would and have claimed that their input in the Voisey's Bay deal improved the agreement. That was - after all - the argument they made vociferously to the media and the public at the time. Williams was adamant that all details of the deal be put forth to the House of Assembly - no exceptions - even for commercially sensitive information. Both he and Dunderdale also made the argument that Roger Grimes was not elected as Premier - that is to say no electoral mandate was achieved after he took over the office - and therefore a true mandate to develop significant resource deals was not in place.

What is different now? Why the change in the PC government mantra - from the days they sat in Opposition? Why do this government and newly minted Premier Kathy Dunderdale refuse to engage in real discourse and debate with the people or their representatives?

I understand the partisan line and the weighty towing of it. This is not the time to follow such rhetoric. This is arguably the largest resource deal we will make in our generation and therefore it deserves maximum scrutiny and open debate. This is not a rah rah issue - and the cheerleaders need to check their pom-poms at the door and return to real classes.

Make no mistake - this is not the time for PC, Liberal, or NDP supporters to rant on and call each other names. This is a time when the legislators of Newfoundland and Labrador need to do their real job. Banners, buttons, signs, or life-size images will not make this deal the right deal - and if PC members cannot independently confirm that they understand the following they have should not support it:

1. The proposed deal - including all details
2. The history of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
3. The history of the Upper Churchill deal
4. The history of Hydro-Quebec
5. The relationship between the Upper Churchill and the Federal Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act
6. Court challenges on the Upper Churchill
7. Current value and projected value of hydro-electric power for the next 20 years
8. The current position of hydro-electric energy use by industry dependent on energy
9. All documents surrounding any attempts to attract industry to Labrador using the Upper or Lower Churchill Power
10. The GWAC
11. All costs and environmental choices involved in choosing transmission routes
12. The socio-economic advantages/disadvantages of either exporting the power or using it in Labrador
13. A complete comparison of other hydropower rich countries and jurisdictions and how they use hydropower for industrial development - including but not limited to Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Quebec
14. The history of Emera , trading of the stock, the vulnerability of takeover, and the expected benefits to the shareholders from the Muskrat Falls development
15. The comparison of accrued benefits for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, the people of Nova Scotia, the people of New Brunswick or New England, Nalcor, Emera, and more particularly the people and communities of Labrador
16. All options for renewable energy including but not limited to geo-thermal, wind, tidal, wave, and hydro
17. A 20 year exhaustive energy plan based on historic and realistic projections of energy needs
18. All financing options for the project and the costs and risks inherent in each
19. Why Danny Williams and the PC's reneged on
      a) getting recourse on the Upper Churchill before a deal on the Lower Churchill
      b) 100% ownership of the project by the people of the province
      c) control of transmission routes
20. The projected costs of consumer energy both in Labrador and on the island and costs for industry

Please understand that this list is not complete and there are many more areas to be covered.
If you continue to stand on your feet in the House of Assembly and speak without the above knowledge - you do so irresponsibly and shall be held fully responsible for your ignorance should this deal proceed.

Rather than trying to silence me through indirect threats to me professionally or through asking your supporters to follow you blindly when you yourself are blind to the facts - try to stand on your own two feet and do what is right.

Although I fully expect many of the MHA's to keep their hands over their ears while humming "I can't hear you" - I also expect there are decent and conscious MHA's that will make sure their children and grandchildren come first in the making of such a deal. If you are prepared to put party ahead of the future of our province and her people - do the honourable thing and resign.