Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make an announcement in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Friday, but nobody seems to know what it will be.
Premier Kathy Dunderdale, speaking to reporters at the House of Assembly today, said she didn't know what Harper will be in the province for, and she has no plans at the moment to travel to Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Dunderdale said she only found out about Harper's visit through the media.
"I really don't know what the prime minister could be announcing at this point," she said.
One possibility is that Harper could be announcing the federal loan guarantee for financing on the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project. Happy Valley-Goose Bay is very close to the Muskrat Falls site. But given that the provincial government has been in negotiations with Ottawa on the loan guarantee for the past year and a half, it would be strange that Dunderdale wouldn't know about such an event.
"If he's preparing to do something with the loan guarantee, listen, I'll be there with bells on, but negotiations are still ongoing at the moment," Dunderdale said.
Another possibility is that Harper will make an announcement about the 5 Wing Goose Bay base itself, which has not seen much activity in recent years.
The Ottawa Citizen reported earlier this week that Harper sent two letters to Defence Minister Peter MacKay earlier this year directing him to find a more active role for the Goose Bay base.
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