Premier Wakeham Says No Final Vote Planned for Churchill Falls Agreements
Premier Tony Wakeham announced a special legislative debate on the Churchill Falls agreements but did not confirm a final vote, while opposition critics expressed concern over the deal's terms.
A special debate on the final Churchill Falls agreements will be held in the House of Assembly, Premier Tony Wakeham said on Wednesday. He noted that the legislature had already endorsed the agreement during a September debate, when the measure passed 21-18, and indicated that the government does not intend to renegotiate the provisions that were previously approved. Wakeham added that the negotiating team will provide technical briefings for members of the House of Assembly and that the agreements will be returned to the legislature for discussion. He did not specify whether a vote on the final agreements will occur, stating, ">That’s something that…you’ll have to wait and see. Right now the plan is to make sure the definitive agreements line up with what was voted on in the House of Assembly."
Opposition energy critic Fred Hutton expressed disappointment with the government's approach, saying he is "upset" but not surprised. He warned that the deal, which was approved by 21 members in September, will bind the province for the next 50 years and lacks a market-based price or an escalator clause for Gull Island, describing these omissions as "disturbing."