The Newfoundland and Labrador government is set to release the long-awaited independent review of the Churchill Falls memorandum of understanding to the public on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. NT.
On Tuesday morning, the Canadian Press reported that the committee outlined several concerns with the MOU. The report’s executive summary, which was shared with the news agency by an unnamed source ahead of its release, says “despite the benefits, the memorandum of understanding in its current form is not in the public interest.”
Premier Tony Wakeham announced the three-person committee — Chris Huskilson, Guy Holburn and Michael Wilson — tasked with reviewing the MOU back in December. It was delivered to the provincial government at the end of April.
In a statement last week, the premier’s office said Wakeham and Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott will host a news conference on Tuesday afternoon at Confederation Building.
CBC News is carrying the news conference live at cbc.ca/nl, on CBC Radio and on the CBC N.L. YouTube channel at 12:30 p.m. NT.
Previously, Wakeham had said that Huskilson, Holburn and Wilson would present the report to the public — saying he thought it was important that the committee themselves present their findings.
However, on Friday the premier’s office said the committee has since advised they won’t be present at the May 19 event and won’t speak on the report.
The MOU was agreed to by the former Liberal government in December 2024 to replace the deal for Churchill Falls power signed in 1969, and pursue other developments on the Churchill River, such as Gull Island. The arrangements detailed in the MOU could bring more than $225 billion in revenue to Newfoundland and Labrador over the lifetime of the plans.
Wakeham has said he would put any potential deal to a referendum.
On Dec. 15, he told Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, “you will have your say on any deal before I sign it.”
Last month, Finance Minister Craig Pardy said $8 million was set aside for a referendum.
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