ED MARTIN TOLD ABOUT LOW-BALLED PROJECT COSTS

According to some observers, John Mallam, P. Eng. ought to have been — minimally — the Vice-President of Nalcor. He had served in senior roles at Hydro for most of his engineering career and rose to the position of Vice-President of the “regulated” subsidiary — utility speak for an entities under the control of the Public Utilities Board. He now serves on the Nalcor Board of Directors.

On the witness stand at the Muskrat Falls Inquiry, Mallam did not seem to fit the pliant mould that afforded cronyism to run rampant at Nalcor's senior level. Upon Nalcor’s creation, becoming the parent of Hydro and other subsidiaries holding provincial assets including Bull Arm, some senior executives were shown the door following Ed Martin's arrival. 

WILL PREMIER ASSUAGE ONE PERSON'S WORRIES ABOUT PUBLIC INQUIRY?

The Premier’s announcement that he will reverse course and call a public inquiry into the Muskrat Falls project has attracted much comment on this Blog and in other forums. The public’s worst fear is that the inquiry will accomplish little and result in another waste of money. 

Scepticism abounds that government will restrict the inquiry’s mandate. 

Nalcor meddling is an undercurrent of the debate. Another is that the government will placate the many politicians and restrict the inquiry from having them testify and face examination.

Only the Premier can quell those fears with announcement of the broadest possible inquiry mandate.