Government trying to save face on mill mishap says Opposition

Liberal Opposition Leader and MHA for the District of Cartwright-L’Anse au Clair, Yvonne Jones, says government chiding the Opposition for asking questions and bringing to light information on an expression of interest in the former Abitibi mill is an attempt to save face over another bungled file.  

Minister of Natural Resources Kathy Dunderdale spent the day trying to contain the kerfuffle over news that a German company interested in the mill was into bankruptcy proceedings a week before   government disclosed they were entertaining a letter of intent from the proponent to reopen the mill.  

In May, in response to a question from the Opposition on the mill’s future, the minister blurted out that a company had toured the site and was preparing a business plan to buy and operate the mill.

“The minister attempts to do damage control on this issue, but laying the blame on the Opposition for asking questions shows the complete lack of competence and weak leadership in her own department. It is typical of this government, to blame others for their own glaring mistakes and inappropriate handling of files.  What is evident from this fiasco is that government failed once again to carry out even the basic background check on this company. This is yet another embarrassment around this mill, as was the accidental expropriation, and government spins into its habitual blame mode.”

Jones points out that the disclosure by the minister occurred during a polling period when government was trying to elevate themselves in the public eye.  “They got themselves into this mess because they were taking a great deal of pressure over the mill expropriation bungle and hidden contamination reports. They were looking for decoys of any good news they could find, even if it was a casual business inquiry.  She should take responsibility for this mess rather than pointing fingers.

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