The announcement by
Ed Martin, interjected on day two of a “Show N’ Tell” on the Muskrat Falls construction
site, is another in a long series of re-runs in which public information is
treated as a game, and reporters as dolts.
The $600 million
overrun didn’t even warrant the Premier’s presence, confirming who is in charge.
The best Davis could muster, later, is a comment that he still “believes” in
the project; as if dumb “belief” cancels the worst effects of a “sinkhole”.
The Nalcor CEO Ed
Martin is a seriously failed senior bureaucrat; yet, he has unfettered
authority to deal with the public, and to persist with ‘spin’ as the basis of cost
overruns.
The surprising part
is that he hasn’t been fired; but, that is only because democracy will suffer
even lesser men who can’t show him the door.
It is one thing to
listening to Ed Martin ‘snow’ reporters; but nausea inducing, too, is listening
to reporters’ questions of Martin. It is a profession that rarely leaves high
school. Other than the occasional bit of sanity (the Telegram’s James McLeod’s piece
and the editorial on October 1, 2015 were stellar) most reporters are so ill-equipped
to conduct an intelligent interview with Martin on Muskrat, the public gets to
hear only nonsense.
This Piece should
be about Nalcor, but there is a risk lame media might actually be
encouraging Ed Martin to stick around.
Reporters can argue
they do not have time to prepare, that the announcement was sprung on them in
the way Telegram reporter, McLeod detailed in the Wednesday, October 1st
edition of the Paper. But, truth be known, while McLeod went public with Nalcor’s
media control tactics, every media outlet concerned about the integrity of news,
ought to have done likewise.
They may not be
able to do anything about it, but they can bring the problem to the public’s
attention. Indeed, the very fact Nalcor treats them as dolts is the best proof of
Martin’s derision for them, and his abhorrence
of the idea of transparency.
Whether anyone
cares is uncertain, but reporters’ lack of knowledge of this complex project is
really what inspires Nalcor’s trickery. Even Nalcor’s costs estimates are quoted with biblical adherence, when reporters must know the lower figure, the one without interest during construction (IDC) is the one the Company wants announced. No one cares that interest during construction, on a financial level, is as important as the cement that glues the project together. And Martin didn't add the IDC to the cost overrun either.
Nalcor is
acutely aware reporters are unprepared; Martin counts on it. His PR people plan
around it. It is disrespectful. It is denigrating. The media suffers, as an
important institution.
Not just the
institution, the public loses, too.
It is not an easy
gig to follow Muskrat. It takes time, dedication, and a serious commitment to
the practice of journalism.
But reporters are
content to report ‘in the moment’. They
fail to square Ed Martin’s glib justifications for the overruns with assurances
elicited from him, at an earlier time.
The
Telegram reported June 27, 2014, when Ed Martin announced an $800 million increase in project costs: “At this point, Martin said 90
per cent of the project contracts have been awarded, and 98 per cent of the
engineering on the project has been done.”
Now, changes in engineering design are blamed
for a significant part of the higher figure.
Martin said then, too, the contracts signed are unit-cost
contracts or fixed rate agreements, so they won’t suffer overruns.
While the Telegram editorial on October 1, 2015 noted Martin’s comment, it bears
repeating. He said: “I believe that we
have narrowed down the risk of additional cost increases very, very, very
significantly”.
These assurances suited Martin then, and helped him through a
rough patch. But his new rationale is all the proof needed to confirm he will
say anything to the uninformed. He knows
few reporters will remember, or even bother with the research.
This was an occasion to inquire as Martin’s own competence. He chose
the project team poorly. He is the one that set in motion a trail of bad
decisions and outcomes that are now practically unstoppable; the Premier
unwilling to act.
Ed Martin chose Astaldi. He flew to Italy to beg the Company to
bid.
Still, Martin is never challenged on his own suitability as CEO.
It wasn’t just the engineering or the two dam contracts, awarded
recently, which exceed budgeted estimates. Overruns are occurring even on the
transmission line contract, the single area where Nalcor can claim expertise.
No one even questioned the assertion that the project is 50%
complete or sought a “real” independent assessment of the project’s
completeness.
Ed Martin’s word will do. Reporters will swallow it, even if he
treats them like shit, especially if it fills the need for a sound bite.
What better time to talk to Martin about resignation than when
his project is a mess? Or, does someone think $600 million is not a catastrophe? Does even one reporter think he won’t be back
to the ‘well’ for a few billion more?
And, oh yes, the CBC interview with Danny Williams. Cochrane: the
word ‘supine’ to mind. Williams tells Cochrane the $600 million is just “mouse
droppings”.
Danny tells him Nalcor has the best management team in the world.
Cochrane
still can’t figure out that Muskrat emanated from Williams’ ego; he put his own
loyalists in charge. Failed as they are, he must defend them.
Williams raises Muskrat analysis to the quality of a fart.
Yet, he has access to the public broadcaster when other
citizens, with something to say, like David Vardy or Cabot Martin don’t even get
asked even when the accuracy of long held positions are borne out each
time Ed Martin looks for another cheque.
Reporters are not responsible for the fiasco unfolding at
Muskrat. But, they sure as heck don’t offer the public much help in figuring
out just how bad things are, and holding the political leadership to account.
They need to do better.
