Manitoba Hydro board resigns over spat with premier

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 Métis 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 said the resignations stem from a dispute over a plan by Hydro to pay $70 million to the Manitoba Métis 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. “To not push for extended environmental hearings on that line and also for acquiescence or nonparticipation 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 Métis rights and would save Manitobans millions in litigation costs and delays around Hydro projects.

“Premier Pallister will likely cost all Manitobans, including Manitoba Métis 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.

The Progressive Conservatives opposed the plan while in Opposition, but said after winning the 2016 election that it was too late to reverse the construction projects.

The Tories replaced the Hydro board less than two years ago with the nine members who are now resigning.

Pallister said he had spoken with board members, but avoided meetings because he did not want to seem to be interfering in Hydro’s regulatory applications to the Public Utilities Board.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont called the dispute a “full-blown crisis” and an indictment of Pallister’s leadership.

Loren Remillard, CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said the province needs to move quickly to appoint a new board to send a message of stability that “the core business is still responsible, sustainable, well-managed.”

Pallister said Wednesday that a new Hydro board will be appointed soon.