Metis federation wants to put premier in hot seat at hearings on Hydro project
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/05/2018 (2162 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrand hopes to call Premier Brian Pallister as a witness in next month’s federal hearings on a $453-million Manitoba Hydro transmission line project to Minnesota.
The National Energy Board will hold oral traditional evidence hearings June 4-8, and conference-room formal hearings June 18-22.
Chartrand said in an interview Friday that MMF lawyers are exploring whether they can force Pallister to appear and be cross-examined about his decision to order Hydro to cancel a $67.5-million 50-year deal with the MMF that involved the proposed line to Minnesota.
The NEB said Friday that such a request would be a first, but didn’t rule out that Chartrand could be successful in getting the premier to appear.
“Such a request has not been made in the past. The board will consider any motion (or procedural request) put before it and decide accordingly,” NEB communications officer Marc Drolet said from Montreal.
In addition to the premier, Chartrand wants his lawyers to be able to question Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen at the NEB hearings.
The premier’s office did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
Cabinet ordered Hydro to kill the deal in March. Pallister and Cullen believe the deal would deprive future generations of Métis people of their rights.
Pallister told the legislature the $67.5 million was hush money to buy off a special interest group. Cullen has said the MMF does not speak for all Métis people.
However, Chartrand believes the land-entitlement deal was negotiated as part of the reconciliation process; in 2-14, the province gave Hydro and the MMF the green light to reach an agreement.
The federation had agreed not to oppose the transmission line, which is supposed to be sending power to Minnesota by 2020.
In a separate legal action, the MMF will file a motion asking the courts to reverse the province’s decision to kill the deal.
Further details on the NEB hearings in Winnipeg are expected next week.
nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
