The
appointment of Stan Marshall was seen by many, including this scribe, as one that
might presage real change in the management of Nalcor. Based upon his lengthy
experience as head of a large multi-national company, Fortis Inc., it was
thought that he might possess the skills and the moxie to inaugurate a long
overdue re-set of the Muskrat Falls project, too. An update on Muskrat is due
by month’s end. But last Wednesday, Marshall signalled that any high
expectations of him may be excessive.
I don't
think anyone expected the new Nalcor CEO to be a miracle worker. There is hope
he might unveil a revised mandate for the crown corporation; stop it from wasting
money on the Gull Island power project, on seismic surveys offshore, and on
high-risk equity investments in the offshore oil industry.
But most
observers know that the mandate given Nalcor by former Premier Danny Williams falls
within the bailiwick of the Ball Government to change. The Premier has already
proven that he doesn’t understand policy or what constitutes “real change”, so there’s
little chance that he has given Marshall any such instructions.
However bringing
new talent, both to Nalcor and to dealing with the horrible mess at Muskrat
Falls, is something expected of Stan Marshall.
