Winnipeg Free Press,

Letters and comments, Oct. 24,

Posted: 10/24/2018 4:00 AM

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/letters-and-comments-oct-24-498385631.html

Re: Tories hire former B.C. premier to review Bipole III, Keeyask (Oct. 19) I am pleased that there will be an investigation into, among other matters, the influence of political decisions on the Bipole III and Keeyask fiascoes. This is premised on the investigation being truly independent and complete findings being made public. It may become clear whether decisions were made in the interests of politicians, as opposed to the interests of Hydro consumers and Manitobans. The investigation may demonstrate whether the government of the day significantly downplayed the importance of already known critical information — for example, the Wuskwatim Hydro Project’s failure to meet its foundational economic assumptions, and the flat demand curve for electricity in the U.S. However, for the investigation to be credible, it cannot be further politicized by narrow scope. For example, prior to being elected to office, Brian Pallister’s Progressive Conservatives promised to stop the Bipole III Project. And then, once in office, it was Pallister’s PC government that chose to continue with the development. The investigation needs to include, within its scope, the influence of the political decisions made by Pallister and compatriots, and the decisions of his Hydro board appointees (e.g., respecting assumptions of export prices). Dan Soprovich Swan River