Premier announces Independent Review Committee for Churchill Falls MOU to be chaired by former Emera CEO
Premier Tony Wakeham announced details Monday of the committee that will conduct a review of the Churchill Falls MOU.
The new Independent Review Committee has been created under Part II of the Public Inquiries Act, 2006, to study all matters relating to the negotiation and content of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between N.L. Hydro and Hydro-Quebec regarding the Churchill River.
Under the terms of reference, the Independent Review Committee members will be empowered to examine any relevant matter or issue they deem necessary to answer the question: Is this MOU in the best long-term interest of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador? The committee will also have the ability to commission independent technical, financial, legal and any other analyses they require. The terms of reference of the Independent Review Committee can be found online here.
Also announced was the appointment of Chris Huskilson as Chair of the Independent Review Committee. The committee will also include business professor Dr. Guy Holburn and accountant Michael Wilson.
Huskilson was the CEO of Nova Scotia energy company Emera when it signed the deal with Nalcor to build the Muskrat Falls project. Emera built the Maritime Link section of the project, connecting Newfoundland with Nova Scotia. Wilson was a member of the previous oversight panel, but quit because he believed its independence had been compromised.
The Independent Review Committee will have four months to complete their work.The full final report will be tabled in the House of Assembly and shared with the public.