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The provincial government and Nalcor Energy have sometimes formed an "integrated team", supporting the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project, according to Robert Thompson, former Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and former Clerk of the Executive Council.
Was it in conflict with the government's control responsibilities?
"No, I do not think so," he said on Wednesday before the Muskrat Falls investigation board.
He said there was "no doubt" that the provincial government was satisfied with Nalcor Energy's answers to questions and badurances as energy options in the province were reduced in 2010. He personally in-depth questions as deputy minister of the ministry responsible for the energy society of the province (some in e-mails and notes now in evidence), but he did not remember asking for copies of external evaluations requested by Nalcor Energy, nor to require the government to subcontract its own independent studies, including the costs of Muskrat Falls and the schedule as the project moves closer to the 2012 sanctions.
He spoke with officials who "lent their hand" to society and vice versa, reviewing the speeches, letters and press releases related to Muskrat Falls. He acknowledged that government officials had consulted Nalcor before referring to the Public Utilities Board (PUB).
He testified that considerations such as Aboriginal affairs required a close working relationship, while there were also practical overlaps.
"It is difficult to separate these broader objectives (government, natural resources) from Nalcor's specific energy supply goals. It is in this sense that I think there is an integrated team. So, if we have to work in unison and stay focused on the goal, it does not mean that we're integrating staff at the engineering level, it means we have a variety of roles that we try to integrate at the top and we have a lot of experience in relationships, in meetings, in dialogues, in deep questions and that's the meaning I mean, "he said. stated in response to questions.
A meeting with the president of PUB
He was questioned at one point on a meeting with Andy Wells in September 2011, while Wells was president of the PUB. Wells spoke about it earlier during the investigation, noting that it was while the PUB was examining "the isolated island" and Muskrat Falls' energy alternatives. Wells stated that he had been improperly summoned to the Confederation Building and questioned questions put to Nalcor Energy, suggesting that Thompson was pressuring the PUB so that she would change her approach.
Thompson confirmed that he had asked questions about the PUB's requests for information, but had denied pressuring Wells on how to proceed, saying it was to improve the government's understanding.
Regarding the convening of the meeting, "I certainly would not have had the meeting if I did not think it was appropriate," he said.
Thompson said he could not remember why Wells was present, as opposed to the PUB's lawyer.
The PUB had to deal with late deposits from Nalcor Energy. The board received a three-month extension of the deadline for reporting to the government, but not a second extension requested. He finally indicated that he did not have enough time or information to carry out a fair review.
Strategic Risk and Schedule "P1"
Like other former bureaucrats and members of the government, Thompson said he was unaware of a $ 500 million estimate related to "strategic risk." That the provincial government had to cover if the project came to fruition.
An amount to be covered has not been taken into account in the estimation of the public costs of the Muskrat Falls project.
Thompson said he was involved in "periodic, if not regular" discussions about the project's risks and how Nalcor Energy would treat them, but he did not recall the "strategic risk" figure. Communicated to him.
He added that he was also unaware of a probability factor "P1" for the schedule – a factor that would ensure almost a planned date for the first power supply of the hydroelectric dam would would not be respected.
"We certainly did not have this information," he said, adding that he was surprised to see it in the listeners' report.
His testimony is expected to continue Thursday.
Related stories:
The finances did not examine the estimates: the old N.L. Deputy Minister
The Minister of Finance knew the staff was concerned about the investigation of the Muskrat Falls investigation
The Muskrat Falls Inquiry (updated daily)
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