Local

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

$700 for Hydro meeting

Band member paid to attend; cost of dam talks hits $223M

By: Larry Kusch

Posted: 06/21/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 06/21/2012 11:34 AM | Updates

Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press Solange Garson's cheque stub, which she says proves she was paid to attend a meeting.

A member of a northern Manitoba First Nation said she was paid $700 cash to attend a two-hour meeting in 2010 over hydro development in her community.

Solange Garson said Wednesday the meeting occurred at the Winnipeg offices of a consulting firm, employed by Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN). She lived in Winnipeg at the time.

Garson said it was also common -- until she started blowing the whistle -- for video-game consoles, flat-screen TVs and freezers to be offered as door prizes to lure band members to meetings.

She called the door prizes and cash payments "very unethical" and "wasteful."

It's seen as crucial to the public-consultation process to have attendees at such meetings.

Manitoba Hydro has been negotiating with TCN and several other northern First Nations for years over the development of the Wuskwatim, Keeyask and Conawapa hydroelectric-generating stations.

Also on Wednesday, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation revealed the cost to Manitoba Hydro of providing lawyers, consultants and other assistance to First Nations negotiating agreements with the Crown corporation has risen to more than $223 million. That's up from about $160 million in late 2009.

"It's a lot of money. When you look at the big picture, you're talking about a quarter of a billion dollars just to set up an agreement to share some revenues to building new hydro dams," said Colin Craig, the federation's Prairie director.

Craig is upset Hydro refused to release details of the expenditures. The Crown corporation says the information is confidential. The federation isn't buying that, saying Hydro is owned by Manitobans and they deserve an explanation.

Craig was critical of door prizes and money being offered to attract band members to meetings.

"The public shouldn't be paid for attending meetings on dams or to approve a new bike path or whatever the case," he said.

Craig referred the Free Press to Garson, who has spoken about the freebies in the past.

Garson said she received her cash payment when she attended a meeting at Hobbs and Associates, a Winnipeg consulting firm employed by her home community.

"I went to a two-hour meeting. They gave me $700 cash," she said. About eight band members attended the meeting, she added.

Nick Hobbs, one of the firm's owners, said the money didn't come from his company. "We certainly didn't do anything like that," he said. He advised the Free Press to call the First Nation.

A receptionist at Tataskweyak Cree Nation referred a reporter to band councillor Robert Garson. Reached while travelling, Garson said he could not comment without clearing it with fellow councillors. "I don't want to be speaking on their behalf," he said.

First Nations negotiating northern hydro agreements have their costs covered by Manitoba Hydro. Once the dams start producing electricity, they will be required to reimburse Hydro for a portion of the costs from the revenues they earn.

Hydro spokesman Glenn Schneider said the corporation would reject any invoice covering inducements to attend meetings. "It's not an expense that qualifies for reimbursement... "

He said questions on gifts to meeting-goers should be directed to Tataskweyak Cree Nation.

But Craig said it is irrelevant whether the inducements are funded by Hydro or the First Nation, which is funded by federal taxpayers.

"It's like asking whether it's coming from the taxpayer's right pocket or left pocket," he said.

Solange Garson said the issue boils down to the vast sums of money Hydro is spending to prop up the negotiations -- money she would rather see spent on community improvements.

"If Hydro wasn't dishing out this money, there wouldn't be money to waste," she said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Cost of community consultation

A breakdown of the money Manitoba Hydro has spent so far to cover the costs of aboriginal community participation in negotiations over northern hydro projects:

PROJECT	COMMUNITY	AMOUNT

Bipole III	Fox Lake Cree Nation	$798,596.95
	Manitoba Metis Federation	$441,250.00
	Swampy Cree Tribal Council	$14,560.00
	Swan Lake First Nation	$5,271.75
	Southern Chiefs Organization	$32,000
	Cree Nation Partners*(TCN/WLFN)	$2,360,021.04

Keeyask	Fox Lake Cree Nation	$23,535,170.20
	Manitoba Metis Federation	$41,250.00
	Nisichawaysihk Cree Nation	$4,127.40
	York Factory First Nation	$20,719,020.67
	Cree Nation Partners*(TCN/WLFN)	$100,233,165.59

Wuskwatim	Opaskwayak Cree Nation	$190,599.94
	Nisichawaysihk Cree Nation	$49,386,346.67
	Nelson House Community Council	$25,413.53
	Cormorant	$190,599.94
	Snow Lake	$254,133.27
	Thicket Portage	$25,413.53
	Herb Lake Landing	$25,413.53
	Cree Nation Partners*(TCN/WLFN)	$2,164,740.34

Conawapa	Fox Lake Cree Nation	$11,943,912.87
	Manitoba Metis Federation	$41,250.00
	York Factory First Nation	$4,187,494.72
	Shamattawa First Nation	$1,211,419.97
	Cree Nation Partners*(TCN/WLFN)	$5,700,650.60

TOTAL		$223,531,822.51

* Includes Tataskweyak Cree Nation and War Lake First Nation

-- source: Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 21, 2012 A3

History

Updated on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11:34 AM CDT: formats table

Factual inaccuracy? Something missing? Help improve our journalism.

Know about news? Share your story suggestions, photos and video.

Spelling error? Punctuation problem? Send us an email if you’ve found a typo.

More Local

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.