Kennedy slams foes on Muskrat, says no to house debate

Natural Resources Minister Jerome Kennedy is criticizing the opposition for not asking questions on Muskrat Falls, but says there is no need for a dedicated debate in the legislature on the $6.2-billion megaproject.

"I had thought that the house of assembly would be of much more value to us in assessing and raising issues on Muskrat Falls," Kennedy said on todays episode ofOn Point with David Cochrane.

"Ive been very disappointed with the oppositions lack of raising these issues on Muskrat Falls."

But Kennedy is batting aside questions about why the Tory government is not holding a formal debate in the legislature on Muskrat.

He says there are other opportunities in the house to raise the issue.

"The problem right now is that Im not sure these opposition parties are going to provide quality debate on anything," Kennedy said.

Other big megaprojects and public policy issues have received dedicated debate in the pastoften at the insistence of the Progressive Conservatives.

The legislature reconvened for a special session in 2002 to debate the Voiseys Bay deal. The same thing happened in 2005, when Fishery Products International wanted to spin off some of its assets into an income trust.

Total arrogance

Liberal MHA Yvonne Jones slammed Kennedys comments.

"This is just total arrogance on behalf of Jerome Kennedy," Jones said during an On Point panel appearance.

"Its so typical of a person when you have nothing intellectually to say that you attack the person. Thats what Im seeing here."

Jones says the Liberals have many issues to discuss, such as health care, transportation and municipal funding.

Those, she notes, cant all be put on the backburner just to talk about Muskrat Falls. And thats why a special debate on the hydro project is important.

"We want a full debate on this issue," Jones said. "When theyre ready to do it, well be ready to stand and do our piece. In the meantime, we cant sidetrack all the other important issues that are going on in this province."

Meanwhile, NDP MHA George Murphy says he is "disturbed" by Kennedys comments.

"Thats marginalizing a large sector of this population, as far as Im concerned," Murphy said.

Murphy says consumers are asking questions about what the power project is going to cost them, but still dont have straight answers.