Let the finger-pointing begin
The small army of semi-professional anti-muskrat enthusiasts will realize their dream today, when the Commission of Inquiry Respecting the Muskrat Falls Project (CIRM) holds its first hearing.
Anyone hoping for a dramatic start to this Newfoundland-style Greek tragedy will be disappointed. Today’s sitting is but banal bureaucracy to determine “standing” — i.e., which of the groups and individuals who have applied to CIRM will be allowed to participate and get taxpayers’ money to pay lawyers. Think of it as youngsters picking teams for a game of shinny in a $12.7-billion stadium.
CIRM recently asked the Liberal government for every document, record, communication, etc. regarding MF — enough paper to single-handedly revive the province’s forestry industry.
The Liberals reluctantly acceded to CIRM’S request, with the proviso that new legislation will empower the government to order CIRM to keep some of that information secret.
If any of this sounds familiar, it should, because for several years avid anti-mf warriors have warned of the consequences of allowing Nalcor Energy to withhold so much information from the public.
Evidently, the multimilliondollar CIRM won’t have the power to pry those secrets loose.
CIRM, like MF, is going to be a hugely expensive exercise in futility. Although CIRM will be a waste of money, at least it won’t have the potential to bankrupt the province.
We know this to be the case, even before the first witness evades a question or a lawyer voices an objection, because what the public expects from CIRM is way out of whack with its mandate.
The public wants to know who is to blame.
Surely, an economic debacle of such magnitude didn’t happen by accident, but was perpetrated. The public wants the perp. Somebody better be punished.
CIRM will mute those cries from the mob, understandable though they are. CIRM will use its almost two-year timeline to examine the fine print of every MF construction and supply contract. It will examine labour practices and the oft-touted but seldom defined “best practices.” It will measure tonnages of concrete.
In other words, CIRM will examine in detail every branch and every knot on every tree, but will not see the forest.
Conspiracists spouting fantastical theories on social media might hope the revelation of a hidden email or memo will lead to criminal charges and a date in the slammer for their favoured suspect, but it won’t happen. CIRM is not set up to satisfy anyone’s desire to see retribution visited upon this or that alleged perp.
And yet, the question everyone wants answered is, “Was there malfeasance?”
The mob apparently thinks so. You can tell by the number of people carrying torches these days.
Perhaps CIRM’S diligent burrowing will dig up an incriminating email at the Confederation Building, either incoming or outgoing, along the lines of, “Tell you what. Let’s build a dam to provide power for the mining companies, and explain to the idiot public that we’re actually creating an ‘energy warehouse’ in Labrador.”
Well, OK then. Prepare a bunk in the slammer, you might think.
Except that … a scenario such as that has been discussed and debated in public for years. It was merely one in a myriad of very public political issues regarding MF.
Malfeasance? No. Manipulation? Surely.
Speaking of political manoeuvring, 500,000 Newfoundlanders — at home and away — eagerly await former premier and MF architect Danny Williams’ appearance at CIRM. Apparently, in preparation for being called as a witness, Williams is already practising walking on water.
Oh, the anger that seethes through the polity because of MF. And yet, if Williams were to re-enter politics, it would take incredibly high odds to make an intelligent citizen bet against his being re-elected as premier.
Enjoy CIRM’S drama, if and when it comes. But give up on the dream of assigning blame. Bear in mind the slightly revised adage, “We have met the culprit, and he is us.”