$33M for Muskrat inquiry 'significantly' more than commission asked for

The Supreme Court Justice in charge of a judicial inquiry into the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project is assuring the people of Newfoundland and Labrador the commission will spend no more than what's necessary on an inquiry.

Justice Richard LeBlanc'sstatement, releasedWednesday afternoon, comes on the heels ofTuesday's budget announcement that the province is putting $33 million towardan independent inquiry into the Labradormegaproject.

• $33.7M pricetag revealed for independent inquiry into Muskrat Falls

According to LeBlanc, the budget submitted to government was "significantly lower" than the $33 million allotted.

"It is the inquiry'sunderstanding that, in addition to the amount it submitted, government added costs tocover its participation in the inquiry, as well as a contingency for unforeseen expenditures," he wrote in the statement.

He added that the commission sought government's advice "to ensure the items purchased for the inquiry could be used for future inquiries or other government needs."

LeBlancsaid he intends to provide public summaries of the costs incurred by the inquiry, and those figures will be posted on the commission's website.