We can't stop Muskrat now!

You know the old saying If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it.

We are the proverbial people spoken about.

Lie 1

We need the power

Lie 2

This is the cheapest alternative

Lie 3

We need to get around Quebec

Lie 4

Holyrood will be eliminated

Lie 5

It will cost 7-8 billion dollars

Lie 6

We need it for industry

Lie 7

We will own the transmission line to the Island

Lie 8

Ed Martin quit/retired

and now the biggest whopper of them all

Lie 9

We can't stop Muskrat now

For each and every lie above we had head-bobbing from ignorant MHA's and Ministers, we had a media in report but not research mode, and we had and have leaders who lead us down a garden path.

Each and every one of these lies was repeated, reported, repeated, reported, and repeated and reported.

Each and every one without a modicum of real and unfettered independent investigation.

The first big whopper - "we need the power" was one leader and the last big whopper  "we can't stop Muskrat now" from our current leader.

Both of them have tried to back up the statements with "input" from experts. The current expert Stan Marshall - riddled with government exempt conflict - has proclaimed "this is a boondoggle" but "we can't stop it now".

The first part of his statement "this is a boondoggle" is something that should be used in the Captain Obvious Hotels.com commercials. The second part "we can't stop it now" is coming without real proof or true independent review - that should be demanded by the people.

We suspect there has been/is some form of corruption going on. We know for certain incompetence has been abound and continues. We know we were lied to. Any reasonably minded person would say - it is time to stop the boondoggle, forensically audit the boondoggle, review the results publicly, and then look at all options.

Not here though. Lie repeat. Lie repeat. Lie report repeat.

It is unfathomable.

 

A lie told often enough becomes the truth. Vladimir Lenin
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/vladimirle132031.html

A lie told often enough becomes the truth. Vladimir Lenin
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/v/vladimirle132031.html

Beware Gull Island and Dwight Ball and 40 cent power

I read with interest the latest post on Uncle Gnarley's Blog 

MUSKRAT WILL DESTROY UTILITY SYSTEM IN 2020

This guest feature by PlanetNL certainly has no problem getting our power rates to 30 cents - even while using conservative estimates. 

As Sue's blog has pointed out many times - population - is and has been a real problem since the Fisheries Moratorium.  That one disaster cost our province at least 100,000 people  between the 1992 and now. It was the destruction of a resource fundamental to us being solvent and growing. 

The PlanetNL feature has not yet accounted for that part of the problem. 

30-35 cent power does not yet include the out-migration - that will absolutely grow exponentially as power becomes unaffordable.It does not yet include the significant numbers of those who will move to fixed income status as our population ages abnormally - without offsetting numbers of babies and youth. 

None of the soon-to-be pensioners have a plan that accommodates 4 or 5 times increase in power rates. None of the government administered programs such as CPP or the OAS were designed to deal with this runaway price on an essential such as power. 

Any attempt by government to subsidize those on low fixed incomes means that those taxpayers/ratepayers left will be subject to even more expense. 

Small to Medium size businesses - not in the industrial sector - will be unable to pay the electric bill without passing it to a consumer who cannot afford to pay it. 

I expect the next installment from PlanetNL to contain pretty catastrophic projections for cost of power as the author includes some of these other factors into the equation. 

I won't say I look forward to reading it - but I look forward to seeing real data and realistic projections finally coming to the fore. We as a people are closing our collective eyes - holding our breath - as we await the boom about to fall directly on top of us. It is likely to suck all the goodwill, hope, and trust out of us as we try and find a way to save this place from complete devastation. 

How do we fix this?

Well as a province that has the 4th largest utility in the country and the second largest underground power station in the world - and possessing first class natural renewable and non-renewable natural resources - we also - unarguably - have had the worst management of those resources.

To fix this - we must stop Muskrat Falls now. We must show the fortitude necessary to withstand corporate leeches who will be up-in-arms that their undeserving gravy train will end. We must conduct a forensic audit and use all the legal tools necessary to rid ourselves of the Emera deal. 

Finishing Muskrat and continuing on with this fiasco means we will have to give away our remaining resources - rightfully belonging to our future generations - to simply stay afloat. Pushing this out is not an alternative. 

This is going to need read leadership, guts, and tenacity. This is going to require a wholesale change in our thinking and if the current politicians will not do it -They must be told to get out of the way.  

Stan Marshall - who has some qualifications for success in the sector (primarily in regulated utilities with reasonable guarantees of profitability) has been of little value here as:

1) he failed to replace some executive in Nalcor,

2) he remains in an otherwise (government exempted) conflict of interest situation with his personal interests in competing entities. 

3) he failed to report existing reports in a timely manner

4) he has not demonstrated the extreme due diligence needed right now (does not know enough about independent contractors) 

5) he has failed to call for a forensic audit despite the red flags

6) he is not engaged enough to make Nalcor his only and first priority

The entire executive of Nalcor must be replaced and we must name a new Board of Directors. The government must stop Muskrat Falls immediately and bring in forensic auditors. When that is completed - government must review all options and lay them on the table for the people and then utilize a referendum on those choices. 

In the coming months we should expect to see government trying to bail itself out with a new potential regarding Gull Island. Do not let them explore touching this asset until we have decided a complete course of action for Muskrat. They will GIVE AWAY another resource if we let them. 

This is a time when we need all our people to pull on the same oar and use our brightest minds to seek a solution - not based on 4 year elections and inadequate solutions. 

Right now Dwight Ball is not engaging with all such people. He is playing a political game with lots of spin to save his political hide and whatever else he may be engaged in. 

The Corporate Muskrat world  is working hard to find a suitable replacement for Ball - should he not be able to continue to deliver for them while maintaining the ability to be reelected. 

The MHA's in the House of Assembly had better buckle down and demand answers and become at least somewhat educated on hydro-power and our history. As it sits now they are woefully ignorant of the situation we are in and possess no ability to fix it.

Do you want a future for your kids and grand-kids in Newfoundland and Labrador? If so speak now. 

Either Newfoundland and Labrador will return to being a wonderful place for all of us to live and raise families in or it will remain a playground for the super-rich to extract more personal wealth from. 

Time is not on our side. 

When I see the media focus on the Dobbin/Williams racket or the where's Costco game - I acknowledge we are have a tough road ahead and the odds of us surviving are pretty minuscule. 

Onward we go.

Post construction hangovers - Muskrat

Newfoundland and Labrador must have the worst record in the developed world for natural resource projects.

As Labrador rises up - rightfully so - against the poisoning of their people - the Island population is in its usual temporary jobs trance.

Premier after Premier in our history promised new wealth and growth through commitments of change in the development of our resources.

Always with the exception of one - we have been let down - robbed - and depressed as these commitments disappeared.

Each and every time the lure of quick and temporary jobs tempers the outcry of the public that we've given something else away.

Can we actually claim that jobs created during the construction of the Upper Churchill were in any way compensatory for the billions of dollars of lost revenue? As we charge Hydro Quebec 1/5th of a cent per kilowatt hour and they sell it at 100 times that - can we really celebrate the construction jobs?

We have done the same with minerals, oil, fish, and forestry.

The mourning of the Upper Churchill contract has been longstanding. There is no way we would ever let that happen again right? We swore - it would never happen again.

Now it has. The Muskrat Falls project is worse than the Upper Churchill - we will pay for this project - our children and grandchildren will pay for this project. Unlike the Upper - this project is over budget - unsafe and unnecessary.

Only yesterday I seen stories of people complaining about being off the job because Labradorians have the gall to demand a reduction in the poisonous aftermath of the flooding.

There is no justification to keep this going.

Here's what we have:

Danny Williams says great deal - many people say not so fast but were ignored by the media and called traitors, conspiracy theorists and naysayers by the politicians.

Williams leaves and then Dunderdale's job is to keep it moving no matter what. Many people were crying stop and warning the population that this project was bad and should be stopped.

The PC's Liberals and NDP allowed the project to keep going.

The PC's delayed the election to allow more money to be spent while the Liberals and NDP permitted the Tories to get away with it.

The media still not tuned in. Continue to ignore the many voices warning the people that this project would cause irreparable harm.

People were once again lured with well paying construction jobs for short-term personal gain - while these very employees were subjecting their own children and grandchildren to years of financial pain and continue to do so.

The unions did their special interest bidding and completely ignored the damage to the province as a whole. One group of unions would of course cause problems for another set of unions as the province would have to lay-off CUPE and NAPE members and have no money for teachers or nurses.

Labour spokespeople like Lana Payne encouraging the development and making sure the NDP followed suit.

This project needs to be stopped. We must have a complete resolve to the Northern Spur and we must know what the costs are to stop the project. This is not-withstanding the issues Labrador faces with environmental costs.

We need a referendum on this - and we need it now.

Where's the leadership?

Where is the commitment of all our people that we would never ever again let the Upper Churchill happen again?

We are letting yet another 3 generations down - as we bankrupt their future and allow corporate interests rob our resources.

Muskrat Falls - what about children of the Island?

The people of Labrador have begun a long overdue process of protecting their people from poison. This should have been done many years ago but it is happening now and that's what is important.

The movement has significant support from many people and organizations.

I stand with them in this fight against Nalcor and government and believe what they are doing is right.

Here's the problem - this is just the tip of the iceberg - and our children on the Island portion of the province are not being protected and also safe to suggest that clearing the land before flooding will not protect the people of Labrador against the real safety concern of the North Spur.

As for the children of Newfoundland - the risks are enormous - and in fact may mean their future will never be in this province.

The Muskrat Falls debacle is not affordable and we the people are not getting what we need right now and that is the costs to stop the project.

Stan Marshall the new head of Nalcor has been a disappointment - he is a permitted to be in conflict enabler for the corporations driving Muskrat Falls. This is not acceptable - and the spectacle of the Fortis entry into public offering is an embarrassment. Not that the company has gone public - although there are issues there - but rather our Minister running off to witness it.

Our children are being threatened on the Island as the children are in Labrador.

The children of the Island have to pay for this unsafe and over budget monster regardless of what the government does with other assets.

The idea to save consumers from Muskrat by developing Gull Island to pay for it - means there will be another 4 generations losing significant and essential resource revenue needed for the future.

So while Labradorians are attempting to protect their people from poison - we on the Island are turning a blind eye to what this project is going to do to our children. You will note that the public position of the Labradorians is that they are not opposing the project but protesting the flooding operations. Although I know there are many Labradorians who oppose the project outright - this fight is about flooding vegetation.

This project must be stopped and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador need to be given all information regarding the cost and benefits from stopping the project. Then we need a referendum.

What are you going to do about protecting your children? What are you willing to do to protect their future?

Of course all of this is in the backdrop of our enormous financial problems.

Stan Marshall? Not at this cost!

Oh come on media - where are you?

After such a big miss on the energy monolith - one might expect for the media to be on their toes.

After a complete miss on Muskrat and all the information freely provided by citizens was ignored - the damning truth was forced on them and all of us.

In comes Stan Marshall - instant messiah treatment oozed out of dull swords of ink painfully reminiscent of the coming of Danny Williams.

Stan Marshall's appointment was swift with few details. One available was Marshall would accept the same as Ed Martin but with no severance option.

Time went by and no contract.

Then the contract appeared to be stalled in negotiation.

Marshall won. We lost.

His employment is in complete conflict.

There are no excuses - no spinning - no exceptions that make this okay.

The media has disappeared. The media will not take Marshall on the same way they avoided Williams.

Martin's contract dealt with Conflict of Interest. Here is the clause:

3 (c) The Executive shall not acquire, directly or indirectly, an interest in any firm, partnership, association, entity or corporation, the business or operations of which would in any manner, directly or indirectly, compete or conflict with the business of operations of Nalcor and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Executive nor any family member (this term having the same meaning as defined in Newfoundland and Labrador's Conflict of Interest Act, 1995 shall directly hold any shares in the Fortis Inc. group of companies including Newfoundland Power excepting however interests acquired in a publicly traded corporation through retirement mutual fund(s) investment vehicles.

Marshall's contract deals with Conflict of Interest. Here is the clause:

4 (a) The Executive shall not acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, an interest in any firm, partnership, association, entity or corporation, the business of operations of which would in any manner, directly or indirectly, compete or conflict with the business or operations of Nalcor, NLH or a company considered to be a subsidiary of Nalcor in accordance with Section 13 of the Energy Corporation Act, with the exception to the foregoing being that the Executive may own 5% or less of the shares of a publicly traded company;

Here's the deal - Marshall is allowed to be in a potential conflict of interest. This defies all logic and pith and the purpose of same.

Unfortunately but understandably Marshall nor his family want to be interfered with as that relates to personal financial affairs. Unfortunately this means Mr. Marshall does not qualify to sit as the head of our Crown Corporation.

When a government starts making exceptions to Conflict of Interest guidelines, laws, and intent we are already on the wrong side of right.

We have experienced too much of this. We need change.

Marshall - despite his professional qualifications - has decided not to relinquish his other interests - same for his family - some of which conflict.

Marshall should resign or should be replaced.

In our desperation to replace Martin - we must not be forced to forego conflict of interest protection - regardless the candidate. 

Tomorrow we delve into this contract and terms further.

The Nancy O'Connor fiasco

The CBC Newfoundland and Labrador has reported this morning that Nancy O'Connor - Director of Communications for the Premier contacted Memorial University about the "Resign" Dwight Ball signs on poles prior to their removal by the Department of Transportation and Works.

In part O'Connor explains to CBC: "In my capacity in communications I reached out to my counterpart at Memorial inquiring whether or not the poles belonged to the university and if posters were permitted to be displayed on those poles," and "If the university did not permit the display of posters on those poles, it would be a reasonable expectation that they would be removed."

The body of the actual email was:"Telling DB to resign ... Are these poles belonging to MUN or Power? And are ppl allowed to put posters on them? If not can someone take them down?"

Where do I begin?

If the communications director of the Premier does not know who owns utility poles in this province - she is not informed enough to serve as a communications director for any government department or agency. She might have visited the websites of Newfoundland Power, Nalcor, Telephone and Cable companies to educate herself.

What makes this worse is O'Connor's so-called expertise. She was a spokesperson for MT&L PR (Now known as "National") during the pro-Muskrat group development. In this regard she was listed as:
i) listed as Nalcor media contact for the response to Nunatukavut complaints over lack of consultation on the Lower Churchill project;
ii) Listed as Nalcor media contact for panel hearings on the Lower Churchill development...

All of her work involving the promotion of the Williams project and she does not understand the distribution system of the province?

Nancy O'Connor a walking support mouth of the Muskrat project for Williams and company finds her way to be the comms director for the new Liberal Premier?

Nancy's expertise cannot be questioned as it relates to transforming herself to advance herself but it most certainly can and should be questioned as it relates to the important issues in this province.

Now let's look at this seasoned experienced professional's take on democracy. The most important thing on a Sunday morning for Ms. O'Connor was trying to get the Premier's face off utility poles? It was not why the pictures were on the poles? It was not why the people were infuriated with Ball? It was not dealing with the inflicted hardships of the budget? Ms. O"Connors concern was how do I thwart freedom of expression and protect my boss? It was to ask an independent academic institution - our provincial University to help - if they could in removing "Resign" signs?

‘Freedom of expression’ is one of the fundamental freedoms protected by section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 2(b) provides that everyone has “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.” 
In R. v. Keegstra, ([1990] 3 S.C.R. 697) the Supreme Court of Canada identified three main objectives underlying the guarantee of free expression. First, free expression is “instrumental in promoting the free flow of ideas essential to democracy and the functioning of democratic institutions.” Secondly, free expression is “an essential precondition of the search for truth.” Thirdly, free expression is “worth protecting for its intrinsic value to the self-realization of both speaker and listener.”  Given the breadth of the underlying objectives, the guarantee of free expression has been held to apply to artistic, educational and even commercial expression, as well as political expression.

In consideration of all this Ms. O'Connor is trying to find an owner of poles who would thwart such expression?

Let's just say MU owned the poles and they did not allow posters. Is it O'Connor's most important duty to inquire of the University if they did and suggest they follow such rules?

I - we - pay her salary. She works for us. In my opinion - based on her activities involving the poles fiasco - she is not qualified to hold the position - particularly when we the people are paying her salary and benefits.

Now let's take a leap. If somebody in the Office of the Premier was trying to find a way to have the signs removed - are we to believe that some individual in the Department of Transportation and Works was thinking the exact same way at the same time - but no words, winks, nods were ever exchanged?

The chickens ate the fox...

Now that we have seen the first moves of Nalcor's new CEO - underwhelmed seems an appropriate reaction.

Stan Marshall the successful head of regulated private utilities has either lost his touch or has been directed to stay the course.

Ed Martin was not the only executive responsible for the complete failure of our corporation. Martin however appears to be the only casualty.

We have already been told that Marshall will carry on with Muskrat without real justification or real numbers relative to cancel or go on the project.

The savvy that the former head of Fortis demonstrated at the helm of the private utility is absent now.

One very telling comment came during a media event last week when Marshall was responding to a question regarding potential privatization of the Crown Corporation. He stated "The sheer fact that I'm in my role means it can't be done."

In a world of real journalism this would have been like a red flag to a bull. This would have caused a flurry of questions similar to a nor'easter - fast furious and fierce. Here in Newfoundland and Labrador progressive natural resource deals were placed on the endangered list starting with the Upper Churchill deal - and competence on the subject from our "journalists" has been extinct for decades.

There is no excuse for missing this. We must be able to have some faith in the news media - but we can't. If we are relying on them to keep their eye on the ball - we have lost the game before we played.

What was Stan Marshall saying? He is in a conflict? What role? What can't be done? What prevents him from considering that option?

As all of you know I am the champion of keeping Nalcor/Hydro Crown - but if what Marshall says means what I think it does - it would also prevent the company from looking at the reverse - nationalizing Newfoundland power. It would also prevent Nalcor from becoming aggressive with other potential opportunities. Ones that could make us money.

Worse than all of this - in a round about way - was Marshall indicating that the conflict of interest provisions applicable to the former CEO of Nalcor's contract do not exist in his?

If this is the case and Marshall refuses to clean up the conflict - he too should be replaced.

Enough already. Show us Marshall's contract - what are you hiding now?

MacDonald Tobin Williams - the three amigos - whose turn is it this time?

Stan Marshall - Conflict of Interest? Fracking?

Stan Marshall has had an illustrious career with Newfoundland Power and then Fortis. He has proven himself in a way that Ed Martin never did. The comparison of Ed Martin to Stan Marshall in terms of executive remuneration is a joke.

A Telegram story upon Marshall's retirement noted the following:

"Since 1996, total shareholder return is approximately 855 per cent and the average annual total shareholder return is approximately 13 per cent."

As the new CEO of Nalcor his role should be no different - it's just the nature of the shareholders.

He has the potential to be great at the job if and these are big ifs:
1. He is not in a conflict of interest and
2. He has progressive direction from government.

Yesterday I outlined the conflict of interest clauses in Martin's contract and asked if they were included in Marshall's. I have not seen anything yet to let people know exactly what the terms of the employment are.

If he is a shareholder in Fortis - it is my opinion he cannot do the job needed for Nalcor. There are too many possibilities of business, administrative and operational issues that may collide and thereby not be considered.

But Stan Marshall's interests go beyond Fortis.

Stan Marshall is a Director of Enerflex - this vote occurred on May 5th after he became the CEO of Nalcor.

There are potential conflicts or appearances of conflict here. Did Marshall seek from the new Board of Directors of Nalcor approval for this new professional commitment? If not why not and are there any rules he has to follow. Afterall - we must remember that Marshall protested taking the job by telling us he did not want it.

Enerflex for example builds/designs customized and standardized fractionation equipment.
Other areas include: oil and gas - particularly LNG.

I want Marshall to concentrate on Nalcor. I want him to deliver for Nalcor, the government, the province and the people of the province.

Is he qualified? Yes particularly in the area of regulated utilities.

It would be interesting to find out who in fact recommended him to the Premier.

People like Dave Vardy (who I respect) who welcome the appointment of Marshall must also not do so in oblivion to the terms of the appointment.

As Marshall has already stated it's too late to stop Muskrat - it would appear to me that those supporting the appointment now - are not concerned about the project continuing in the absence of a thorough review of the option to stop the project. Further I am sure many who may support Marshall's appointment must be waiting to hear what Marshall is going to say or do about the North Spur.

One can have all the potential and expertise in the world to deliver the goods - but he is not a savior - so giving him a pass on conflict does not cut it. Further if the government is asking him to determine the goals and aspirations of the people of the province and how they can be achieved through proper management of natural resources - they are being negligent of their duties as elected officials.

Next - a post on what it could look like and a Corporate move that could be devastating to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nalcor CEO - Conflict of Interest?

It seems the information on Stan Marshall's contract remains behind closed doors as I write this today.

The past month has been consumed with outrage and calls of "we did not know" as it related to the Ed Martin platinum handshake.

The lesson for the people, media, and MHA's should be don't be blindsided again - make sure we will not end up with more problems resulting from a contract with Nalcor's new CEO.

The now infamous Martin Executive Employment Agreement (renewal) ended up being a lottery win for a fellow who does not show up much on Executive searches for jobs held prior to becoming the CEO of Nalcor. It did however contain important clauses that deserve the same level of scrutiny.

Clauses 3(c) and 4 deal with a common issue for corporate executives and the companies they work for. The issue is conflict or potential conflict of interest.

These clauses are absolutely necessary to ensure that the interests of the company they work for are placed ahead of all other professional involvements.

As such Ed Martin's contract contained the following clauses:

3(c) the Executive shall: not acquire, directly or indirectly, an interest in any firm, partnership, association, entity or corporation, the business or operations of which would in any manner, directly or indirectly, compete or conflict with the business or operations of Nalcor and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Executive nor any member of his family (this term having the same meaning as defined in Newfoundland and Labrador's Conflict of Interest Act, 1995) shall directly hold any shares in the Fortis Inc. group of companies including Newfoundland Power excepting however interests acquired in a publicly traded corporation through retirement mutual fund(s) investment vehicles.

4. The Executive may, with the approval of the Board, serve as a director or member of service clubs, charitable, recreational and community organizations and may also serve as a director of publicly traded entities which would not in any manner, directly or indirectly, compete or conflict with the business or operations of Nalcor having first obtained the approval of the Board.

Stan Marshall's background is well known particularly his tenure with Newfoundland Power and Fortis.

We need to know if these clauses were maintained in Marshall's contract and if not why not.

Further we need to know who drafted the Marshall contract - was it in house (Government) or outside private lawyers.

Tomorrow I will expand on the potential conflicts of interest that are existing.

I repeat: what I think of the appointment of Stan Marshall is not relevant to this discussion - as this discussion deals with prudent precaution regardless of the qualifications of the Executive.

The Martin/Marshall contract

Our history is riddled with mistakes, incompetence, corruption and bad decisions.

The last two weeks have been about the Ed Martin compensation lottery.

Part of the fury is the contract itself. The public did not have ready access to the document until it was released by Des Sullivan. Uncle Gnarley shed light on the whole sordid mess is an articulate post.

There has been much made of the contract and the Executive benefits Martin enjoyed during his tenure of failure.

We now have a new CEO, Stan Marshall. His success with private or publicly traded regulated utilities is well known and unlike his predecessor he has the bio to prove it.

Regardless of what I think about the appointment (I will deal with that in another post) there is a need for more openness and accountability. This is what was promised and expected.

With the aforementioned considered we are in need of significantly more information on this appointment than what we have now.

1. Has a contract been executed with Stan Marshall?
2. When was the contract achieved?
3. What is the duration of the contract?
4. Was the contract achieved under Section 7 or 9(1)(2)(3) of the Energy Corporation Act?
5, What are the terms of the contract?

I really do not care if it's Bill Gates we have employed - the public must know the terms of Stan Marshall's appointment. We must know if it contains clauses that are unacceptable regardless of his past accomplishments.

We have many times had a "savior" in politics who turned out to be not so beneficial despite successes in their pre-political life. Now we are depending on a "savior"for Muskrat Falls. This thinking is deliberately ignorant and very dangerous.

It is not acceptable that we be in the dark about it until Marshall goes out the door. 

Considering what we have just gone through and continue to go through - the government and Nalcor should be anxious to make this information available and the media should be anxious to go after it.

Will we be buying OUR Power from Emera next?

While PUB hearings continue on the "proposed" Muskrat Falls deal - Emera is humming along creeping further and further into Newfoundland and Labrador.

This "proposed" deal must just be words for show - similar to the "consumer (us)" PUB hearings that are underway - albeit controlled, manipulated, and interfered with.

Slowly but surely - the establishment that wanted to rid you of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro - are coming back to try again. We are going to be hammered and privatized.

Please read the story below from the Chronicle Herald:

Emera Utility Services Inc. announced Monday that it has acquired a Newfoundland company, establishing its first presence in that province.

Emera Utility Services has purchased Green’s Service Station Ltd., a utility line and communications construction, installation and maintenance business in Goobies, N.L.

A purchase price was not disclosed by the Nova Scotia company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Inc.

“We’re not going to disclose the purchase price, other than it is not material to Emera,” said Emera Utility Services president and chief operating officer Dan Muldoon in a phone interview.

While Emera Newfoundland & Labrador, a company developing a Maritime link associated with the Lower Churchill project, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Inc., Monday’s announced acquisition represents the first foray for Emera Utility Services into the Newfoundland market.

 The company has facilities in Dartmouth, Truro, Sydney, Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton and Charlottetown.

The acquisition represented an opportunity for the company to find a new market to grow its business, Muldoon said.

“Part of our growth strategy over the last number of years has been to both diversify our lines of businesses as well as on a geographic basis,” he said.

“And Newfoundland is a logical step for us given the amount of future activity in transmission line construction that could happen in that province.”

What made Green’s attractive was that it focused on transmission line maintenance and construction, an area of growth targeted by Emera Utility Services.

“We were looking over there for a while and Green’s has been around for almost 30 years, has a very good, solid reputation for performing quality work and has good relationships with customers,” Muldoon said. “And we felt, of the companies over there, Green’s was the best one for us to acquire.”

As part of the transaction, the entire existing staff of 80 full- and part-time employees from Green’s, including founder and former president Vernon Smith, will join the Emera Utility Services team. Smith has been retained as the new managing director.

“It is a construction company so its staffing levels go up and down based on the amount of projects that they actually have currently underway,” Muldoon said.

While future growth in Newfoundland is planned, Muldoon said the company will focus on moving forward with Green’s.

“I think at this time we’re going to use the next number of weeks to actually integrate Green’s into our operations and get a position for the amount of current work that we have over there with the customers.

“We hope to grow the company based on what we think potentially could be a fair amount of work over there.”
 _________________________________________________________________

So what's next? Will they be seeking all the maintenance from Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro's system? Will they be seeking to buy Newfoundland Power?

This Nova Scotia Company and a few wealthy investors want it all - right?

One thing for certain - the tone of the comments confirms that they think the deal on Muskrat is done and they are getting corporately bored - while our Premier puts on a show for the people. 

Flip those utilities say the amigos. How long after Emera takes all what's here in power before HQ buys these assets out?

What a legacy for our children!

Shawn Skinner -The Minister without his Own Clue - Legacy of Shame

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.

The Lower Churchill Project could lead to loss of Sovereignty

Sovereignty you question? Yes Sovereignty!

Unfortunately we voted ourselves out of complete independence when we "joined" Canada. However there is still this little small item remaining that of a province.

You and I have listened to musings of creating one Atlantic Province called Atlantica. Many business people and some politicians have really entertained this.

From a business perspective - many elite billionaires dream about the super province wherein the resources of Newfoundland and particularly Labrador can be stripped from this geography and delivered to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for processing and wealth. A corporate dream that would see Newfoundlanders and Labradorians flock to work in the Maritime region - leaving the province with no specific purpose other than camps of workers to extract resource after resource and the power to fuel industry will come from Labrador and delivered to the new Maritime business mecca. Almost like Great Britain when it sent fishermen for a season but would not allow settlement.

If you cannot imagine this - then you could not have imagined we would give up our Dominion status and sell-out to the mighty Canada. But - it did happen.

Since that time we have not enjoyed steady population and industrial growth - rather we have had decimation of resource after resource - and the decimation of our rural communities and population of youth.

We have seen naive politicians make deal after deal with global corporations - that always placed the needs of our people last. We have never enjoyed full benefit from any resource we have exploited.

Our history is in the fishery - but the fishery is almost dead - this after turning management over to Ottawa. This was a renewable resource - a food basket of the world - now it is a just a fraction of what it once was. Remember in 1992 it was only to take 10 years to recover - where is that recovery? Where are the 40,000 people it took with it? Where are the communities? Where are the fishplants? Disgrace!

Then there was the mines - the great wealth of minerals - hauled out truck by truck ship by ship train by train to be processed elsewhere - taking the high paying jobs and skilled workers with it. Communities stripped of their wealth without an heritage fund - left with nothing but a polluted place. Disgrace!

Our forestry - almost stripped bare - and then as we finally forced reforestation and sustainable harvesting - we lost the industry it fuelled. Two paper mills gone. Discrace!

Lastly our power - the tremendous Upper Churchill potential lost to generations of our people - nothing to show for it - not industry - not jobs. Where parts of Labrador continue to rely on thermal generation and not an aluminum smelter in sight. 5000 mw's fuelling the Quebec economy and fuelling Hydro-Quebec the most powerful of power companies. For years losing equalization based on revenues we could not even collect.

Now Dunderdale and the Tories feel compelled to export another block of power - this time subsidizing it for Nova Scotia and others - while not delivering this power to all of Labrador - and not one MW for industry in the Big Land. Dunderdale claiming she is willing to listen to real arguments opposed to the Emera giveaway - but as Danny would say "nothing could be further from the truth". Dunderdale drilling down with due diligence so she may be all over a file - she does not have a real clue about.

Tell me something Ms. Dunderdale - who or what is the Atlantica Centre for Energy ?

What of the description:

The Atlantica Centre for Energy is an industry association dedicated to the sustainable growth and economic development of the regional energy sector. Originally centered in southwestern New Brunswick, the Centre's board has expanded to include leading energy professionals and national professional services companies in Maine, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador and Ontario.
The Centre serves as a bridge between corporations and the community to help realize the opportunities associated with the energy sector in Atlantic Canada and the American Northeast. It provides a meeting ground for government, the education and research sectors, and the community at large to foster partnerships and engagement in energy-related issues and policy development.

Who is benefiting from power found in Labrador? Why would that be fuelling an Atlantica vision? How is it we benefit by creating wealth outside our province?

How about their vision for the Lower Churchill found HERE

I can tell you this Premier Dunderdale and Cabinet - what you are doing with the Lower Churchill will make the architects of the Upper Churchill look like patriots to this province and her people. Are you that naive - or are you that involved?

Again I remain amazed at the PC members so willing to become part of this - the worst giveaway in our history - the day we sold our province.