NEWS RELEASE

                                                                                       Office of the Official Opposition

May 17, 2010
For Immediate Release

Government must provide English version of Regie decision before debate can take place

Government’s private members motion calling for unanimous support of the province’s position and approach against the decision brought forward by Quebec’s Regie de l’energie last week is premature until all members of the House of Assembly are provided with a translated version of the ruling, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones.

Last week in the House of Assembly, Jones requested an English copy of the 130 page legal decision. A request was sent again this morning to the premier’s office requesting such a copy; however, according to officials no version is yet available.

“Before having a debate on such a motion, every member of the House of Assembly should be provided with the translated copy of the decision,” said Ms. Jones. “While we can understand the basics of this decision, we are certainly hesitant to debate a 130 page French legal decision without having all of the information and facts in front of us. We have asked for this document from the Premier but have not received the translated version currently being used by Nalcor, its lawyers or government.

“For government members to bring forward this resolution and feel confident enough to have an informed debate means they have either seen the translated document or are willing to debate something they haven’t read. If they have viewed the document, I question why government is unwilling to share that information with the Opposition. If they haven’t read the document, it once again shows their blind faith in the Premier, the same faith that resulted in the bungled expropriation of the Abitibi mill in Grand Falls-Windsor.”

 

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Media Contact: 
Darrell Mercer
Director of Communications
Office of the Official Opposition
Tel: (709) 729-6151 or (709) 687-0477