| Wuskwatim Project Gets Green Light | 19 June 06 |
 The people of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) of Nelson House gave the green light to the Wuskwatim Generation project in a June 14, 2006 vote. According to media reports, more than 70% of the community's eligible voters turned out to vote, with 62% voting in favour of the deal in the referendum.The deal that NCN voted to approve will give the band the opportunity to buy as much as one-third of the generating station and share in one-third of the profits. It will also receive about $100 million in contracts for the construction process (which it will share with joint venture partners) and more than $10 million in training related to the dam. It will require NCN to invest $1 million immediately. At the end of the six- year construction period - likely about 2012 - it will then have to come up with the rest of the money it wants to invest. In a letter to the editor in the Winnipeg Free Press, Carol Kobliski, Spokesperson for the Justice Seekers of Nelson House criticized Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba government for only printing 300 copies of the Wuskwatim project development agreement for over 4,000 Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation members to review. (These were not available for almost a month after the announcement of referendum date.) She pointed out that with inflation, cost to build Wuskwatim will rise. As a partner, NCN will have to cover its debt and no one else will be there to guarantee NCN debt payments, while the Manitoba government and taxpayers will cover Manitoba Hydro's debt. As of Monday June 19, no official results of the vote are posted publicly. It was expected, as in most other elections and referenda, that results by day of vote (June 7 & 14), and by polling station (several around Manitoba) would be made available. Concern about past problems with election procedures at NCN prompted the Justice Seekers to request both provincial and federal government supervision of the vote. These requests were also tabled in the Manitoba Legislature on petitions with several hundred signatures. Wuskwatim still also requires provincial and federal approvals for permits and licenses in order to proceed. If this occurs soon, officials expect construction to begin this summer. View the June 15, 2006 Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation press release View the June 15, 2006 Winnipeg Free Press Letter to the Editor (DOC) View the June 15, 2006 Winnipeg Free Press Web Extra article (DOC) View the June 16, 2006 Winnipeg Free Press article (DOC) View the June 15, 2006 CBC Manitoba article Sources: Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Winnipeg Free Press, CBC Manitoba |
|
