Manitoba Hydro board resigns
WINNIPEG — The board of directors at Manitoba Hydro resigned en masse Wednesday, leading to counter-accusations from Premier Brian Pallister and the spectre of a lawsuit from the Manitoba Metis Federation.
Nine of 10 board members at the provincial Crown corporation issued a written statement in which they cited an inability to work with Pallister and his Progressive Conservative government. The only remaining board member is Tory backbencher Cliff Graydon.
“For over a year we have attempted to meet with the premier to resolve a number of critical issues related to the finances and governance of Manitoba Hydro, including matters related to Hydro’s efforts to further develop its relationship with Indigenous peoples,” the statement read.
“Despite repeated attempts, we have not been able to have a meaningful dialogue with the government and we have reached an impasse. We have been informed the government intends to remove the chair and has therefore lost confidence in the board. Accordingly we have determined that it is necessary to resign.”
Pallister, however, said the resignations stem from a dispute over a plan by Hydro to pay $70 million to the Manitoba Metis Federation so the organization won’t pursue concerns over a new transmission line to Minnesota. “I would describe it more as persuasion money,” Pallister said Wednesday. “To not push for extended environmental hearings on that line and also for acquiescence or non-participation in future such proposals that Hydro might make.”
Pallister said when the government discovered the planned payment, it immediately objected.
In a statement, federation president David Chartrand accused Pallister of using “race card” tactics.
He said there was a negotiated agreement with the Hydro board that respected Metis rights and would save Manitobans millions in litigation costs and delays around Hydro projects. “Premier Pallister will likely cost all Manitobans, including Manitoba Metis citizens who pay hundreds of millions in taxes to the province each year, triple that in project delays, litigation and damages,” Chartrand said. “All Manitobans should question the path this premier is taking us down.” Manitoba Hydro is racking up billions of dollars in debt to build new generating stations and transmission lines, and is asking regulators to approve annual rate increases of up to 7.9 per cent for the next several years.