For immediate release
March 6, 2019
For the last two days, the NDP Caucus has criticized government for its failure to release a plan for rate mitigation. Yesterday, NDP House Leader Lorraine Michael (MHA, St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi) stated how the Minister of Natural Resources had spoken to media about the PUB interim report and “cleaning up Muskrat Falls.” Michael says concerns about skyrocketing Muskrat Falls power rates were already concerns to people when the Liberals took over almost four years ago.
“I ask the Premier: Why has he and his minister only now chosen to deal with this problem?” Michael said.
On the Minister’s statement about developing a rate mitigation plan, Michael asked “How could his government in their fourth year not already have a plan for rate mitigation to present to the people of the province?”
Today in Question Period, Michael asked the Minister for a list of the public buildings identified for electrification and the analysis for economic viability of converting each.
Gerry Rogers (MHA, St. John’s Centre) says the PUB suggests conservation and demand management as one way to mitigate power rates.
“Our party has been promoting this measure since 2012,” said Rogers. “Has government done any analysis on the role these measures could play in rate mitigation?”
Rogers says that Nalcor has been shown to be a costly and rogue crown corporation operating with no effective oversight. This government has been in power for three and a half years and has still not addressed these problems.
“I ask the Premier, given Nalcor’s abysmal record, why is he allowing it to continue on as usual instead of taking steps to address this?” Rogers demanded.
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For further information, contact Zaren Healey White, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), 693-9172 (c), or zarenhealeywhite@gov.nl.ca.