So Shawn Skinner has finally given us the answers to our questions on the Lower Churchill fiasco. The officials who have been keeping the lights on for years told him.
I hope I don't alarm the Minister this morning - but the same officials he has been relying on also predicted we would run out of power by the 1980's 1990's and for sure by 2000. Guess what Minister - they were wrong.
The Minister says or the officials told him to say that we are growing in the commercial and residential sectors. I have a few questions:
The population is not growing - it is moving. So where are they anticipating the growth?
Industries are disappearing almost monthly - so where is the industrial growth?
Appliances and electronic equipment are becoming more - not less - efficient so where are those power savings?
As usual - when the price of oil is up at all people are converting to electric heat. How much of that is Skinner putting in his numbers and passing off as growth?
If industrial growth is your objective - why are you exporting power and subsidizing it for the Maritimes and elsewhere instead of using it to attract industry in Labrador - where the transmission costs would be minimal?
How is it Minister Skinner that jurisdictions surrounding Labrador to the West, East, North and South can all attract industry with hydropower - yet this - "the best hydropower potential left" in North America can't draw any interest?
You get industry in Quebec, Iceland, Greenland, Russia, Norway, and the USA but none for Labrador. Why?
Have you read all the hydro reports on energy needs dating back to the 1970's? What did you find out?
The same officials also advised government to sell Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - that was going to be a great move also.
The people that keep our lights on also include Fortis as a major distributor. What have you asked those officials?
If Hydro-Quebec ever gets its hands on any part of Emera what does that mean for us?
If you are getting a loan guarantee from the feds - who legislatively for years were to be our "partner" on such a development. Why do you need Emera?
And by the way Minister - I was about 10 when the power flowed from the Upper Churchill development and clearly have been injured by such a bad deal. My children will continue to be injured as will their children. What compensation will be offered to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for this egregious error? My children and theirs will also pay for the mistake made by politicians in the past who injured aboriginal peoples. How do you square that circle?
I know one thing for certain - that this deal - as bad if not worse than the Upper Churchill - being done this time by you Minister Skinner and not Joseph R - will be another loss for generations to come - and when that happens you like Smallwood, Rowe, Crosbie and the rest will lower your head and duck. You have no right to be flippant by telling me or any other Newfoundlander and Labradorian - that officials made you do it.
1 comment:
Hear, hear.
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