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Prime minister poised to make Muskrat announcement

Muskrat Falls. — Telegram file photo

Muskrat Falls. — Telegram file photo

Published on November 30, 2012
Published on November 30, 2012
The Canadian Press  RSS Feed
Topics :
Canadian PressThe , Muskrat , Newfoundland and Labrador , Nova Scotia

The proposed Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador is expected to clear an important hurdle today.

Sources indicate Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s trip to a military base in Labrador this afternoon will outline details of a federal loan guarantee for the mega project.

Premiers Kathy Dunderdale of Newfoundland and Labrador and Darrell Dexter of Nova Scotia are also making the trip to 5 Wing Goose Bay.

The federal government has long promised a federal loan guarantee or financial equivalent and it has been working out the details for months.

The move is expected to shave hundreds of millions of dollars off the total cost of the project, which is expected to exceed 7.4 billion dollars.

Power from Muskrat Falls would be brought to the island of Newfoundland and then to Nova Scotia through a sub-sea link.

 

 

Comments

  • Username
    Ed Downey
    - November 30, 2012 at 13:08:33

    No matter how you feel about Muskrat Falls, you have to admit that the fact that the prime minister and the "minister of intergovernment affairs" didn't inform our premier of their plans is a tad ironic.

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  • Username
    Fred Penner
    - November 30, 2012 at 12:43:50

    Looks like the project is a go....the PM is as politically savy as they come and he will not hitch his wagon to a sinking ship. Lets go Muskrat! As an aside, hydro developments have high capital costs but make money forever. We also have the benefit of releasing ourselves from any fossil fuels and go totally green. Great project and a fantastic deal!

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  • Username
    Cold Future
    - November 30, 2012 at 12:26:16

    If the Feds put in $ 4 to $6 billion (don't hold your breath), Muskrat would be economically viable and be able to compete with any of the more viable alternatives to it. As it is the $ 4 to $6 billion premium (to go atround Quebec) is too large a burden on the ratepayer only to subsidize energy which will have to be sold at discounted rates to the mainland, especilly Quebec.It is still difficult to swallow that we would contemplate shutting down Holyrood which can supply clean cheap economicall energy for many years into the future. We will owe we will owe and off to work we'll go - Je ne comprend pas.

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  • Username
    time for that vote
    - November 30, 2012 at 11:39:39

    great job mr. prime minister. you have shown your true statesman as a great canadian. you have finally put our great nation on the map worldwide, now lets have that federal election early so we the voters can put all those naysayer liberals/ndp mp's out to pasture.

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  • Username
    John Smith
    - November 30, 2012 at 11:24:36

    I just hope everyone remembers that the loan guarantee is not needed for this project to be viable. It was never included in any review, or study done on the project. The project has been shown to be 2.4 billion cheaper than the nearest alternative, the loan guarantee will be worth about 400 million at current rates. So the project will still be 2.4 billion cheaper without the guarantee...2.8 billion cheaper with the guarantee....who-hoo...give me a break....this is a big hoopla over nothing....

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    • Username
      Little Man Dan
      - November 30, 2012 at 14:39:17

      Spoken like only an insider would know; you seem quite certain that the real deal guarantee is not going to fly; down Johnny....get off me you lapdog lackie.

  • Username
    honeytruck
    - November 30, 2012 at 11:23:32

    This loan will only cover bonuses that will be made off this revamped 40 year old deal that didn't make sense now or then.

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  • Username
    Stanne
    - November 30, 2012 at 11:17:24

    For your info, 'original townie' this is not a PC Prime Minister. He and his gang are old throw back reformers masquerading as conservatives. This is the same Harper that looks down his nose at Atlantic Canada and continues to build his wall around Alberta. If he had any morals he would have dumped a few of his current corrupt ministers, including the one his a.s.s That he trying to save today. BTW, this guarantee will come with so many outs that he will never have to deliver.

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  • Username
    mainlander
    - November 30, 2012 at 11:14:38

    great project for nf and lab. you naysayers don't know a good thing when it hits you in the face. why do you guys complain so much. we in ontario would love to have a project like this, stop complaining and be glad for what you have. its disgraceful.

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    • Username
      Robb
      - November 30, 2012 at 13:09:50

      Hey mainlander....this is exactly what I have been saying for months....you hit it right on the head. A great clean energy project and all you can hear is the naysayers crying in their empty cups of soup......and you are right, it is disgraceful......but the naysayers and doomsday people just want to be heard, that's all........they probably all believe that the world is going to end on Dec 21 anyway......

  • Username
    mr. scrooge
    - November 30, 2012 at 11:11:02

    whats with the name calling scott free? referring to the prime minister as porogue steve. TYPICAL LIBERAL. have you forgotten that in ontario the liberal premier, and i will repeat the liberal premier as also porogued the legislature.

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  • Username
    Tim Jamison
    - November 30, 2012 at 11:00:39

    Harper's in this now and we all saw what he did to the Quebec left (long gun registry, dead) and the Prairie left (wheat board, dead). He's going to make lunch meat out of our libbie squad in no time flat. Awesome. Better luck next time, Maurice and Winston. I guess you'll be a little older and a little more gray-haired before you finally get those appointments

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  • Username
    I wonder...
    - November 30, 2012 at 10:44:00

    just wondering....John Smith's absence is conspicuous...could he be Ed or Gilbert, or Ross, or any other Tory spin doctor on the flight to the big land?? It's curious that he isn't putting out an "I told you so" spin; or has he been instructed to wait and see first?

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  • Username
    Don
    - November 30, 2012 at 10:20:15

    I feel sad for the people who can't see beyond the length of their nose. This is a good project for the future of Newfoundland and its people.

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    • Username
      a business man
      - December 1, 2012 at 03:55:56

      Don't worry. All 96 of them showed up for the protest. Those who oppose MF are clearly an insignificant minority that should be ignored. Fortunately, their numbers mean then have no say at the ballot box. The rest of us can just laugh at them while we get our way ....Democracy works!

  • Username
    Abu Simbal
    - November 30, 2012 at 10:14:05

    Optimum viewing for the planetary alignment over Labrador is at Muskrat Falls!

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  • Username
    Little Man Dan
    - November 30, 2012 at 09:51:56

    Cue the Tory spin doctors...c'mon Johnny, read your briefing notes...explain why Kathy was in the dark....and wake up Jeromey!

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    • Username
      jack be nimble
      - November 30, 2012 at 10:51:11

      "explain why kathy in the dark"; are u joking; she was being coy; cute as a fox; grinning from ear to ear; this is excellent news; Every day we waste in the present is another day taken from future of our children/grandchildren; this muskrat deal is peanuts; 8 billion; we are gonna get over 20 billion in revenues from Hebron project; we have about 4 billion to pay down on this Muskrat dea; so revenue from Hebron can pay for this project 5 times over; and i havent even mentioned revenue from White Rose; Hibernia; Terra Nova; and yet to developed North Amethyst; God as given this little tiny province tremendous WEALTH; only its negative; down in the dumps people; usually those not in political power keep it from thriving; mostly LIBERALS now; chirster even whats her face Jones; is coming on side; selling her political soul for a few beans hoping to watch the tree shot into the sky with gifts for Labrador; i thought she was a provincial MHA; for Nfld and Lab.

  • Username
    Scott Free
    - November 30, 2012 at 09:17:20

    Progougie Steve's visit to Labrador speaks volumes on many fronts; first off, it's a deflection from the pressure on Peneshue. Secondly, there will be conditions and stipulations attached to the Fed's guarantee (out clauses) that Dunderdale and Kennedy cannot live with; it will require scrutiny and the Feds will usetheir interpretation of the out clauses to give them justification to back out later. Dunderdale was so far out of the loop; she didn't even know he was coming, yet the NS premier was part of the plan all along. Or, she knew the conditions and acted surprised when Progougie Steve said the Feds were moving with or without her knowledge.

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  • Username
    Maurice E. Adams
    - November 30, 2012 at 08:39:15

    A mega-loss yoke around the necks of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for another 50+ years. Unbelievable. Billions in debt for $7.4 billion (probably $10 billlion or more) for power we don't need, a project that has no impact on 92% of the province's greenhouse gas emissions, and no prospect of other sales other than those at a loss (heavily subsidized by ratepayers). What kind of government do we have? They should all be ashamed of themselves. What a price Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will pay.

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  • Username
    Robert
    - November 30, 2012 at 08:03:41

    Totally awesome!

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  • Username
    original townie
    - November 30, 2012 at 07:48:34

    The Premier stated earlier she heard of Harper's visit to Goose Bay via the media. Hard to believe a PC Prime Minister and PC Premier are that far apart on communications. She stated she had absolutely no idea what Harper would announce or the purpose of his visit. Obviously no love lost from Harper to Dunderdale. Quite noticeably he has absolutely no respect for her. A strong message I would say.

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    • Username
      Robert
      - November 30, 2012 at 10:37:48

      She didn't know because the prime Minister had not advised the purpose of his visit to HVGB! The media had it would seem jumped to conclusion or as usual cited "unknown sources" who seems to get around a lot. The Premier was being honest. As for those who don't want to be "burdened" with all the taxes Muskrat Falls will generate perhaps it would be best for them that they move to PQ.

    • Username
      John Smith
      - November 30, 2012 at 11:20:21

      In case you haven't heard the federal party is called the ..Conservative party of canada...when the reform party of alberta took over the federal party they threw out all the PC members, and ran reform members....and called it the conservative party...very, very different from the Progressive conservative party of NL.

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