N.L. NDP leader Jim Dinn hosted a town hall at St. Teresa’s Elementary School in St. John’s Thursday evening. Members of the public raised questions and concerns before the House of Assembly sits to debate the Churchill Falls Memorandum of Understanding on Jan. 6. (Maddie Ryan/CBC)
Dozens of members of the public participated in an NDP town hall Thursday evening to voice their questions and concerns about the new Churchill Falls hydro deal.
Jim Dinn, leader of the NDP party in N.L., began the event by saying he suffers from a “hangover” due to the troubles surrounding the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project.
Given the province’s rocky past with megaprojects, Dinn said it will take time before he can decide whether the new Churchill Falls agreement is a good deal. He’s also calling for an independent review of the Memorandum of Understanding.
The House of Assembly is set to debate the MOU on Monday Jan. 6, which is why the NDP set up Thursday’s forum, said Dinn. He said he wants to attend the debate with the knowledge of what concerns the public has about the new agreement.
One of the most repeated concerns in the town hall was the possibility of the new deal becoming an election issue.
Norm Mercer, seen standing behind a microphone, is one of many N.L. residents who voiced concerns over the Churchill Falls Memorandum of Understanding. (Maddie Ryan/CBC)
“This is so scripted and so rushed, and it leaves me with a lot of concerns,” said Norm Mercer, from the forum’s audience. “This is all about our generation, our children’s generation and our grandchildren. It’s a massive project.”
Mercer went on to say that politics has to be taken out of the question when debating the MOU, and said politicians and the public need more details before that can happen.
Dinn had similar feelings.
“I’ve got to put away my partisan hat, put my critic hat on, and ask the question, ‘Will this make economic sense?,” Dinn said.
“We can’t get this wrong,” said Gregory. “This is the future of Newfoundland.”
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