Once the tyranny of the Smallwood years had been lifted, after the 1972 general election, it did not take long for new government systems to be introduced.
Modern
management practices including a more formalized public information system, a
system for hiring public employees based upon merit, a public tendering system,
as well as others were introduced. A
restructuring of the legislative and executive branches of the public service occurred;
capable people became involved in the governance of the Province. While the system was far from perfect and
backsliding was sometimes manifest, major advances in the overall system of
governing for a democratic society were evident. Somehow, that process was halted with Muskrat Falls.
The Muskrat
Falls project was a big head butt! Not at first. Not until the questions
started to emerge. Maybe it wasn’t even then; perhaps, it was when Minister
Kennedy was heard voicing outlandish and accusatory statements in an attempt to
discredit certain individuals. Many
people then took the time to review the information on Muskrat Falls. Personally, I came to the conclusion that it
was not only ill thought out, it was reckless. Still, that is another matter.