Premier demands parley with PM over hydro line

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This article was published 21/05/2019 (2487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Brian Pallister is demanding a meeting with the prime minister to discuss federal delays of the Manitoba-Minnesota transmission project, which could cost the province hundreds of millions of dollars with construction at a standstill.

On Tuesday, Pallister told reporters he made a request to meet with Justin Trudeau, and would be ready to head to Ottawa as early as next week.

“They’re delaying the approval process and potentially threatening to delay it longer unless we pony up a certain amount of money. And that’s none of their business,” the Tory premier said.

Pallister wouldn’t say what amount of money Ottawa was requesting Manitoba “pony up” nor whether the federal government was referring to repayment of an abandoned financial deal with the Manitoba Metis Federation. He told reporters to ask federal spokespeople about their rationale for delays.

“Our process is one that involves hearings that were available to all… It is an approval process that depends on science — green science, not political science. And so it’s important that we let the process… go ahead,” the Tory premier said.

“Otherwise, why would people even engage in the process of bringing proposals forward if it all ends up on a minister’s desk anyway?”

A federal source with knowledge of the transmission line’s consultation process said Ottawa isn’t asking Manitoba to spend any more money — noting Ottawa’s delays are stemming from more time spent consulting with some two dozen Indigenous communities and the MMF.

The MMF was previously on-side with the Manitoba-Minnesota line, until the province reneged on a tentative agreement the MMF had with Manitoba Hydro so as not to oppose the project. Since that deal was dissolved before the transmission line’s consultation process was over, Ottawa had to revisit it over again, the source said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed receipt of the premier’s meeting request.

Vanessa Adams, a spokeswoman with Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi’s office, said the federal government delayed its decision until June 14 to ensure the Crown had sufficient time to fulfill its legal duty to consult Indigenous communities.

“As the federal government moves ahead with finalizing its consultations, we remain committed to ensuring the process proceeds in a manner that protects the public interest. This means providing clarity and certainty, and it means engaging in a meaningful dialogue,” Adams said by email.

“This will uphold Canada’s strong reputation as a place to do business and initiate good, sustainable projects in a timely manner.”

Last week, the Free Press reported the federal Liberals had sought another month to decide whether to green-light the $453-million Manitoba-Minnesota transmission line, hoping the province would rectify its spat with the MMF in the interim.

About a year ago, the provincial government reneged on a tentative deal negotiated by Manitoba Hydro that would have given the MMF $67.5 million over 50 years, as compensation for Hydro developments on Métis lands. Since then, the province has also scrapped two other agreements with the MMF.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said Pallister needs to shoulder the blame.

“The problem has been the premier from the get-go. This was a transmission line that should have worked. And there were plans in place for the MMF and municipalities to be compensated for the fact that you’re running a huge transmission line over peoples’ property,” Lamont said.

“A year ago, the premier tore up that agreement and said some incredibly offensive things about the MMF and about other people involved in the deal, and he’s the one who’s put this in jeopardy.”

jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @_jessbu