“PHYSICAL MITIGATION…” CONCLUSION:
The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment did not appropriately communicate and monitor the timelines and deadlines of the Independent Expert Advisory Committee recommendation for physical mitigation of the Muskrat Falls reservoir wetlands. However, we did not find any evidence that government intentionally missed the wetland capping deadline.
There were numerous missed opportunities to understand and manage the urgency of the wetland capping timelines. These missed opportunities, within the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment and between the Department and other stakeholders, appears to have resulted in the physical mitigation of the Muskrat Falls reservoir wetlands not occurring.
NationTalk: The Standing Committee on Public Accounts is advising that it will hold a public hearing to follow up on matters contained in the report of the Auditor General on wetland capping on Wednesday, November 23 starting at 9 a.m. and Thursday, November 24 starting at 10 a.m. in the House of Assembly Chamber.
The Physical Mitigation of Muskrat Falls Reservoir Wetlands report is the result of a review initiated in October 2019 by the Public Accounts Committee, requesting the following:
“That the Auditor General investigate and report on the breakdown of communication that resulted in the flooding of the Muskrat Falls reservoir in violation of an agreement between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Innu Nation, the Nunatsiavut Government, and the NunatuKavut Community Council to abide by the recommendations of the Independent Expert Advisory Committee, which directed that wetland capping must precede any such flooding.”
This week’s public hearing will follow up with officials from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Muskrat Falls Independent Expert Advisory Committee (IEAC).
The public galleries of the House of Assembly will be open and a live audio feed of the proceedings will be available on the House of Assembly website. Please note that testimony of witnesses appearing by videoconference will be audible from the online audio feed only.
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Learn more
Report of the Auditor General on the Physical Mitigation of Muskrat Falls Reservoir Wetlands
Media contact
Bobbi Russell
Policy & Communications Officer
House of Assembly
709-729-1178
bobbirussell@gov.nl.ca