Churchill Falls: N.L. Opposition calls to halt vote [Video]

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. –

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Opposition Progressive Conservatives vowed Wednesday that they will not vote on a draft energy deal with Quebec’s hydro utility until it is scrutinized by independent experts.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham asked that a vote set for Thursday be suspended until there is an arm’s-length review of the tentative contract. He made the request in the provincial legislature on the third day of debate on the memorandum of understanding signed last month between the two provinces.

“We won’t vote on a resolution until this independent review takes place,” Wakeham told reporters.

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The tentative agreement would see Hydro-Quebec pay far more than it currently does for power from the Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant and develop more hydroelectric projects with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. Wakeham said Wednesday that with the information released so far, …