Province creates team to respond to review of Manitoba Hydro projects
The Manitoba government is creating a team to respond to the recommendations made following the review of the Bipole 3 and Keeyask generating station projects.
Crown Minister Jeff Wharton announced the new panel on Friday, which he said will provide direction and guidance for future decisions made by Manitoba Hydro.
“Our government is committed to taking action to ensure that future Manitoba Hydro projects are both accountable and demonstrate a clear value to Manitobans,” Wharton said during his press conference.
Panel members include Mark Podlasly, director of economic policy at the First Nations Major Projects Coalition, Tim Stanley, engineer and president at Stratice Consulting, and Chris Gauer—engineer and former president, project delivery with Infrastructure Ontario.
In February, former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall commissioned a review of the two projects, where he concluded Bipole 3 and Keeyask Dam went billions over budget and increased Hydro’s debt because of a lack of oversight by the former NDP government.
Wall’s report included 51 recommendations, and Wharton said the Progressive Conservative government will table a response document to all 51 recommendations made in the report in the fall of 2022.
However, the Manitoba NDP is concerned about this, saying it signals an intent to raise rates and privatize more aspects of Manitoba Hydro.
“Manitobans do not want this government to privatize more aspects of Hydro,” said Adrien Sala, the NDP critic for Manitoba Hydro. "They don’t want that, because they understand that a public Hydro is critical for this province.”
Sala said he is concerned with one of the recommendations in the report, which suggests Manitoba Hydro should divest itself of non-core assets.
“What does that mean? Are they going to sell off Centra Gas? Are they going to sell off Manitoba Hydro Telecom? Are they going to sell off the customer service function of Hydro?” he said.
Wharton said during his news conference that there is “no discussion” of selling off any part of Manitoba Hydro.
“I’ve been very clear: Manitoba Hydro is not for sale,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.