(September 13, 2023, St. John’s) – David Brazil, PC Official Opposition Leader and MHA for Conception Bay East-Bell Island, is demanding answers from Premier Furey about his plans for a hydrogen pipeline through the heart of Labrador and Indigenous territories.

A report by The Independent highlights how executives and insiders from Europe and beyond have more information about the Liberal Governments plans for an “energy super basin” than the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Documents gathered from the Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology reveal plans for a hydrogen pipeline stretching from Churchill Falls all the way to the island. The pipeline would travel through the Innu Nation’s land claim. These plans are not disclosed in the province’s renewable energy plan,” said Brazil.

“Why are we learning from media what should be coming from the Premier’s mouth? The Liberal Government commissioned Wood Mackenzie to draft a report highlighting what an ‘energy super basin’ would look like in our province. Why do industry insiders know more about these plans than the people of Newfoundland and Labrador?”

Brazil says the people of Newfoundland and Labrador should be learning about the Liberal Government’s plans for the energy future of our province from the Premier. Full stop.

“The article states the Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology is not ‘pitching’ the Wood Mackenzie plan to investors, but instead ‘signalling.’ What, exactly, is the difference? Why is the Premier telling investors one thing while telling the people of our province another?” said Brazil.

“Hydrogen production and export is indeed a valuable opportunity for our province. But the people of our province deserve to have a say in the plans for this industry. The Innu Nation was not informed about the potential for a hydrogen pipeline through their land claim. Again, we see a Premier more interested in talking to insiders than he is in talking to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca