New Manitoba Hydro board appointed

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This article was published 04/05/2016 (3422 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Pallister government named a new 10-member Manitoba Hydro board Wednesday with H. Sanford Riley as chairman.

Earlier Wednesday, the NDP-appointed board was shown the door through a phone call from a senior bureaucrat and a letter from Crown Services Minister Ron Schuler.

The new board of directors is heavily weighted to senior financial management and expertise.

Riley is a leading member of Manitoba’s financial community, having established Richardson Financial Group Ltd. in 2003, and is currently president and CEO.

Vice-chairman is lawyer Steve Kroft, president of the Conviron Group of Companies.

Emerson MLA Cliff Graydon is the government representative.

Other Hydro directors include:

❚ David Brown, president and CEO of Richardson Capital

❚ Earl Edmondson, president of Edmondson Holdings Ltd.

❚ Jennifer Nepinak, senior adviser with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights

❚ Michael Pyle, CEO of the Exchange Income Corp.

❚ Allen Snyder, former Hydro executive and now president of AM Snyder and Associates

❚ Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg

❚ University of Winnipeg president Annette Trimbee, a former deputy minister in Alberta

“We are proud to assemble a versatile and experienced group of executives who will bring valuable input to the direction of Manitoba Hydro. It is a tremendous responsibility serving on this board as Manitoba Hydro endeavors to enhance energy service for the province and evaluates opportunities to employ renewable energy strategies,” Premier Brian Pallister said in a release.

Pallister’s office said the Manitoba Hydro board of directors is “responsible for carrying out the duties, powers and functions of the corporation. These responsibilities include ensuring a safe, reliable, economical and environmentally responsible supply of energy for Manitoba, while keeping rates low for Manitobans.”

Carmen Neufeld and Eugene Kostyra, both with strong NDP connections, are now former board members. They said they were told the news by phone Wednesday morning by a senior government official, followed by a letter from Schuler.

“I received a call this morning and a letter thereafter from the new minister,” said Neufeld, an event planner with long ties to the NDP. It was effective immediately, she said. Kostyra, who served as finance minister in a previous NDP administration, also confirmed he got the axe.

He said it wasn’t unexpected, given the change in government.

“It’s the normal course of events. I’m not surprised. The government will have its own representatives there on the corporation,” Kostyra said.

“I hope they’ll take good care of the crown jewel of our Crown corporations,” he said of the Tories.

Another Hydro board member, former New Democrat MLA Jim Rondeau, had his appointment revoked by the Selinger cabinet on April 22, three days after the election.

University of Manitoba economics Prof. John Loxley would not confirm he is no longer a member of the Hydro board, referring questions to the deputy minister.

Also on the previous board were Bill Fraser, Tina Keeper, David Crate, Michael Spence, Dudley Thompson and Larry Vickar.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.calarry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca