Cheers & Jeers
Cheers: to a blast from the past. A joint federal-provincial environmental review panel recommended this before Muskrat Falls was sanctioned: “a review of Nalcor’s assumptions regarding the price of oil until 2067, since the analysis provided (supporting Muskrat Falls) was particularly sensitive to this variable.” The province’s response? “The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador does not accept this recommendation. The information provided by Nalcor to the Joint Review Panel on the need, purpose and rationale for the Project provides an adequate basis to conclude that the interconnected Island alternative is the long – term, least cost option to meet domestic demand.” Then, the price of oil went through the floor. Sigh. Too bad we didn’t listen to that one at the time.
Cheers: to interesting questions. Methylmercury levels after the development of Muskrat Falls are all in the news right now. Think on this: after a workshop in Labrador in March, Environment and Conservation Minister Perry Trimper released a statement saying, “Yesterday’s discussion, along with information received from the Nunatsiavut Government and Harvard researchers, will help inform my decision as regulator, on the proponent’s Human Health Risk Assessment plan. I hope to announce this decision in the near future.” The Nunatsiavut Government and researchers from MUN and Harvard had, at that point, issued a study outlining that methylmercury concerns were not being properly addressed. On the one hand, it’s interesting that the department, the regulator in this case, would contact the proponent of a project to have that proponent vet the regulator’s news release in advance. But here’s the question: why did Nalcor suggest to the government that the words “Harvard researchers” be deleted from the release? At least, the suggestion received this response: “We will not remove reference to Harvard research.”
Jeers: to waving the flag. Here’s a thought for you — ever wonder where the provincial government purchases its flags? Well, maybe not where you expect. In January, the winning tender for a standing offer to supply the province with flags was China Maple Leaf Industrial Development Ltd., Changzhou, Jiangsu, China. And while we’re on the topic of tenders, the M/V Grace Sparkes went into refit in February, with a refit cost of $1,407,360. The ferry went into service in May, 2011, brand new, and cost $27.5 million.
Cheers: to dollars and common sense. Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, the town of Parrsboro, N.S., faced with declining revenues and an aging population, has officially gotten provincial board permission to dissolve from town status and merge with the Municipality of the County of Cumberland. The town simply decided that its operations were not sustainable in the long term, and that its residents could benefit from savings connected to amalgamated services.