The PUB
Report did not mince words. Indeed, in
tone and text it constituted an indictment of the Province’s energy provider. Using over 60 pages, the independent Agency detailed a litany of failures in basic Hydro planning and equipment maintenance.
As if anyone
needs reminding, DarkNL saw virtually the entire Island without heat and
light; almost all suffered rotating black-outs over an extended period. The
concept of warming centers entered local lexicon.
Nalcor’s Ed
Martin quickly plucked a forthright Hydro V-P Rob Henderson away from
reporters.
Martin had
scripted a different narrative; one more self-serving. His tale of woe spoke to historically high
power demand, excessively cold weather and old machinery.
The feeding
frenzy by all the media, for listener audience, gave little attention to facts; with the Report's release the media now owed the public the truth.
While the
PUB Report offered that opportunity, reporters didn’t seem to know Nalcor had gotten another one over them. The Report contradicted Ed Martin's assertions in their entirety. Somehow, it just didn't seem to matter.
The PUB’s conclusions were prefaced in the blunt language of certainty. Not just once, but five times, it contained these exhortations of Hydro’s management incompetence: “Hydro’s failure…..Hydro’s failure….Hydro’s failure…Hydro’s failure….Hydro’s failure….” Five times the PUB condemned Nalcor's performance having failed in its duty of care as a utility provider. In their totality, the PUB’s description of the failures substantially covered Hydro’s entire operation.
The PUB’s conclusions were prefaced in the blunt language of certainty. Not just once, but five times, it contained these exhortations of Hydro’s management incompetence: “Hydro’s failure…..Hydro’s failure….Hydro’s failure…Hydro’s failure….Hydro’s failure….” Five times the PUB condemned Nalcor's performance having failed in its duty of care as a utility provider. In their totality, the PUB’s description of the failures substantially covered Hydro’s entire operation.
That is not
all.
Nalcor was even
found to be incapable of running two generators intended to keep the lights on
at its own Headquarters. Its energy
management systems were rendered inoperable for 43 minutes though, thankfully,
they were ‘securely' inoperable. A
bullet-proof glass protects the Center in case the rabble get angry.
Little
wonder that the PUB imposed upon Hydro a set of specific dates during which it
must report compliance with its maintenance orders.
For these
reasons, one might think a Report chronicling the precise factors leading to
DarkNL would be treated seriously by a media so fiercely gripped with the event
as it unfolded.
One might
think, too, that the public deserved a thorough and studied appraisal of the Report. A reminder of Nalcor’s disinformation campaign
and the PUB’s factual rebuttal would have been a bonus.
But the public got the minimum.
Anticipation
of the Report seemed to put the Telegram out of sorts. A day earlier, the Paper was distraught that
the PUB was late with its filing. The delay, it turns out, was one day’s duration!
Its fit of pique seemed inconsistent with its subsequent tempered reportage.
Even VOCM, brazen
enough to engage temporary “guest” Open Line Host Tim Powers, a paid Nalcor Consultant, to keep the public
in touch with busy Nalcor leadership ‘ad nauseum’; yet the media outlet lacked any of the
same verve when the PUB Report appeared.
While all
the media reports lacked analysis, proportionality or even clarity as to who
was responsible last January, it is hard to say that any performed as poorly as
the public broadcaster. Yes, the CBC
covered the issue. But the editor might
have preferred that the issue stayed on the cutting room floor.
At 5:30 PM this
scribe waited as ‘Here and Now’ raced to the lowest common denominator of what
is nominally called the news. I
waited…..and waited…..
This is what
made the CBC “Here and Now” Friday,
May 16 at 5:30 PM:
* Kenny Green sentencing for
Joey Whalen death
* Accident on the TCH
* Changes to the temporary
foreign program
* Bail for Brandon Tobin in
beating of man with a bat
* Notorious fraudster
sentenced in Windsor
* The weather forecast with
Collette Kennedy
* Project for pregnant ducks
* RNC recognizes 11 citizens
* Weather update
* NDP Convention – Big
Weekend
* Brazil Soccer World Cup
* Swearing can make you
stronger
* Car runs into ATM Machine
* Car takes off without
Driver
Here and Now 6:00 PM
Kenny Green story
Temporary foreign workers
program
Report of PUB into causes
of DarkNL….finally!!!!!!!
I am not
sure on what basis sentencing for a scum bag should have priority over an indictment
of a Utility whose inaction placed at great risk the lives, safety and the
economy of thousands of people. But, the word ‘indifference’ has surely been
elevated.
Should we not ask why the media
is incapable of demanding an explanation of Ed Martin or of the Premier who keeps
him around?
Why is it
that the same leadership is charged with building Muskrat Falls and with the expenditure
of billions of dollars; yet, the media is unable to express concern that such
ineptitude may be transferable?
Ed Martin
can be allowed to deliver gibberish to reporters about cold weather, high power
demand and worn out machinery; but when proven that none of these matters were attributable to the unforgivable events of last January, he is allowed to avoid an explanation
for neglect.
No one
should think NTV, or any other media, powerhouses of serious journalism.
But, even if its Report was far too inadequate, given the gravity of the PUB's findings, the Report into DarkNL did run top of the NTV News at 5:30
PM. Even if it matches the CBC in the
quality of tripe it airs, at least it knows the difference between what is
important and what is fluff.
Our media
have far to go.
