Premier resorts to lying to sell flawed Muskrat deal

The following are statements from the Premier's Board of Trade speech:

1."But that has not stopped Quebec from finding ways to block and interfere with our access to their grid"

2. "Indeed, as we witnessed between 2006 and 2010, Quebec’s actions, through its regulatory process, forced us to reconsider Gull Island for the initial stage of the Lower Churchill development."

3."When we apply creative thinking with good business practices we can avoid the yoke of geography that Quebec has tried to place around us."

4. "Quebec was trying to make us choose between a deal with them or no deal at all. They thought we would have to slam on the brakes of our own economic development."

5. "This is the essence of the choice before us today: slam on the brakes and wait to see what happens in three decades, placing our future in the hands of Quebec."

6. "They understand that if Muskrat Falls does not go ahead, what happens in Labrador from that point on lies squarely in the hands of Hydro-Québec and the province of Quebec."

7. "Does anybody have any confidence that, when mines in this province go to Hydro-Québec looking for energy for development in Labrador, they are going to get the best industrial rates in Atlantic Canada? Not likely. Hydro Quebec’s history is to seek the best deal for itself, which likely means power rates approximating alternatives such as diesel-generated power. This would be disaster with hundreds, indeed thousands, of jobs in this province hanging in the balance"

8. "It breaks Quebec’s hold." (Premier referring to Muskrat deal)

9. "It will not happen if Quebec is deciding how big we can grow"

10. "Escaping Quebec’s predatory grip on our province’s economy is absolutely fundamental if we are to position ourselves to shift from reliance on diminishing non-renewable resources to a renewable-energy economy that will sustain us for generations to come"

Premier Kathy Dunderdale wants us to fear Quebec. Why? So she can proceed with the proposed Muskrat Falls deal.

The Premier insinuates that if we do not do THIS deal NOW - we will never be in control of our own destiny. Why? So she can proceed with the proposed Muskrat Falls deal.

The Premier wants you and I to believe that Quebec wants to cripple our economic development forever. Why? So she can proceed with the proposed Muskrat Falls deal.

Let's for this one moment take the Premier and her dire warnings seriously. Okay - then what twit would partner with a publicly traded company (Emera) when they are able to be taken over by Hydro-Quebec?

You see according to Dunderdale and former Premier Danny Williams - Quebec and its crown corporation Hydro-Quebec would do ANYTHING to stop Newfoundland and Labrador from moving forward. Anything would then likely include the purchase of a publicly traded company vulnerable to takeover.

So then Premier Dunderdale - how are you going to close that loophole?

Well the Premier would say - Hydro-Quebec would not do that. Well Premier why not? Is it possible Premier - can it happen?

Remember the Upper Churchill? Newfoundland and Labrador did not believe that oil prices could or would rise to where they are today. Quebec in financing the project did believe and therefore made a superior deal for its people - one which has created tens of thousands of jobs in Quebec and insured that Quebecers paid the least possible cost for electricity.

The Premier's response? Well - lock out Hydro-Quebec - put the debt on the ratepayers, taxpayers, and future generations of Newfoundland and Labrador - increase not decrease or stabilize rates and then give significant management contracts to Quebec based corporations. What a joke.

So Premier - how can you guarantee that Hydro-Quebec will never own any part of Emera and thereby own assets in our province, control exports, and lock transmission? You can't - therefore what you say is nothing more than desperately doing a deal that will make multimillionaires of millionaires and leave our people in the dark - economically, socially, and industrially. 

One last point - several of the statements made by the Premier in her speech to the Board of Trade are lies. In this regard she has truly joined the rank of her colleague Prime Minister Harper.