PC leader wants assurances on Muskrat Falls project
HALIFAX, NS – Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie wants Premier McNeil to get some firm commitments about the troubled Muskrat Falls project from Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball to make sure Nova Scotia taxpayers are protected.
The Council of Atlantic Premiers met today in Annapolis Royal. The project is behind schedule and over budget with the first power delayed until 2018 or later.
“Premier McNeil had an opportunity to get clear information from Newfoundland and Labrador about the Muskrat Falls project, including cost and timelines,” says Baillie. “We didn’t see that today. We are heavily invested in this project. It has major ramifications for our province. The premier must put Nova Scotians first.”
A release by the Council of Atlantic Premiers today mentioned the Muskrat Falls project, but says nothing about timelines or if the project will still be moving forward.
Baillie says ratepayers must be protected.
“We need to be extra vigilant with the Muskrat Falls deal and make sure we’re protected,” says Baillie. “We’ve seen this before. The premier pretends everything is fine until it’s too late to be fixed and then taxpayers are left holding the bag.”
Recently, two separate consultants told the McNeil government that the province should prepare for delays or even the cancellation of the Muskrat Falls project.
There are big red flags, says Baillie. We need the premier at the table negotiating the best deal for Nova Scotians.
“Today was the time for action and answers, but we saw neither,” says Baillie. “Premier McNeil was in the same room as his Atlantic counterparts and Nova Scotians expected more than just a photo op. We want to see assurances for Nova Scotia on the Muskrat Falls project.”