St. John’s, N.L. (December 17, 2024) – As the House of Assembly prepares to debate the Churchill River Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port, is asking Premier Furey to take three actions to ensure the MOU receives the thorough review that it deserves.

 

The actions requested in advance of the special debate include:

  1. Request the Public Utilities Board to review the MOU
    • Wakeham is calling on the government to refer the MOU to the PUB for an independent and impartial review. The PUB should review all aspects of the MOU, including the new Power Purchase Agreement on the existing Churchill Falls capacity, the proposed development of new generation capacity and Gull Island, as well as the proposed transmission lines. In line with the recommendations of the Leblanc Inquiry, the PUB should report its findings publicly.
  2. Release the report of the 2023 Churchill River Management Expert Panel
    • Wakeham is requesting that the government make public the complete report, which was tasked to make recommendations to maximize the value of the Churchill River.
  3. Establish Expert Panels for Individual Projects
    • In line with the recommendation from the Leblanc Inquiry, Wakeham is urging the Premier to engage independent experts to provide a robust review of each of the individual projects included in the MOU.

 

“The Churchill River MOU has been described by the Premier as transformative. Such a monumental MOU demands thorough scrutiny and input from independent experts,” said Wakeham. “If the Premier truly believes in the merits of this deal, he should not hesitate to agree to our requests to ensure a transparent, accountable, and fully informed debate.”

 

Wakeham emphasized the long-term significance of decisions surrounding the Churchill River. "Newfoundlanders and Labradorians expect their leaders to act in the best interest of future generations. These three actions will help ensure that this MOU will deliver real benefits for the province.”

 

Wakeham reiterated his commitment to holding the government accountable and ensuring that the voices of the people are represented in the House of Assembly. He said he looks forward to a debate that embodies openness and a meaningful evaluation.