The
appointment of Stan Marshall as CEO has not diminished the culture of secrecy at
Nalcor. It was born under former CEO Ed Martin and current V-P Gilbert Bennett
and is entrenched in a number of insidious ways, each of which ought to be
exposed. The more prescient examples are ones that receive the greatest
attention – this post describes one more. Still, no one should think they are
outcrops of randomness even if discussion of the larger problem awaits.
appointment of Stan Marshall as CEO has not diminished the culture of secrecy at
Nalcor. It was born under former CEO Ed Martin and current V-P Gilbert Bennett
and is entrenched in a number of insidious ways, each of which ought to be
exposed. The more prescient examples are ones that receive the greatest
attention – this post describes one more. Still, no one should think they are
outcrops of randomness even if discussion of the larger problem awaits.
What should
be clear to all, however, is this: if Stan Marshall has brought change to
Nalcor’s governance practices they elude the most ardent observers.
be clear to all, however, is this: if Stan Marshall has brought change to
Nalcor’s governance practices they elude the most ardent observers.
Likely,
Marshall is more preoccupied with deciding on which knee the CEO of Hydro
Quebec will sit – as he come to grips with the reality that a “bad” and a
“necessary” deal are one and the same.
Marshall is more preoccupied with deciding on which knee the CEO of Hydro
Quebec will sit – as he come to grips with the reality that a “bad” and a
“necessary” deal are one and the same.
That, too,
is an important subject especially given the negotiations underway with la belle province. Marshall likely intends to “excise” the Muskrat Falls project –
remove – cut it out -from the “Liberal” narrative; Ball not having had the good
sense – let alone the instinct – to keep it grafted onto the Tories’ hide.
is an important subject especially given the negotiations underway with la belle province. Marshall likely intends to “excise” the Muskrat Falls project –
remove – cut it out -from the “Liberal” narrative; Ball not having had the good
sense – let alone the instinct – to keep it grafted onto the Tories’ hide.
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CEO Stan Marshall |
Worrisome,
to be sure, is the price Hydro Quebec will extract for this convenience. But the endemic
deception is a guarantee that when the “deal” is done the “perpetrators” – that’s the right word – of the Muskrat Falls project will be excused from responsibility and exposure.
to be sure, is the price Hydro Quebec will extract for this convenience. But the endemic
deception is a guarantee that when the “deal” is done the “perpetrators” – that’s the right word – of the Muskrat Falls project will be excused from responsibility and exposure.
Likely –
unless the public demands a full judicial inquiry into why the project was
contrived using false assumptions and false DG-2 estimates – issues which preceded bungling by inexperienced project management – it will be buried in a labyrinthine legal construct. The deal is
likely to include, apart from Muskrat and Gull Island, some of this province’s
rights to the Upper Churchill.
unless the public demands a full judicial inquiry into why the project was
contrived using false assumptions and false DG-2 estimates – issues which preceded bungling by inexperienced project management – it will be buried in a labyrinthine legal construct. The deal is
likely to include, apart from Muskrat and Gull Island, some of this province’s
rights to the Upper Churchill.
The agreement will be written by Hydro Quebec
lawyers, too – the thunderous jeering directed at Nalcor’s overpriced beagles by the Justices of the Quebec Superior Court – having barely died down.
lawyers, too – the thunderous jeering directed at Nalcor’s overpriced beagles by the Justices of the Quebec Superior Court – having barely died down.
There is
much to be buried – and it will be buried – because so many people are
complicit.
much to be buried – and it will be buried – because so many people are
complicit.
The latest emblem of a failed project – one that V-P Gil Bennett had hoped to give
subterranean treatment – is the leaky cofferdam.
subterranean treatment – is the leaky cofferdam.
Long dubbed
“the cable guy” few could comprehend, at the start, his suitability to manage a
megaproject. But as if to confirm that he prefers making omelets without
breaking eggs Stan Marshall kept him around.
“the cable guy” few could comprehend, at the start, his suitability to manage a
megaproject. But as if to confirm that he prefers making omelets without
breaking eggs Stan Marshall kept him around.
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Nalcor V-P Gilbert Bennett |
The temporary cofferdam is a very basic
civil works job. When you can’t get even that right, when your quality control
regime will allow kilometers of faulty transmission line to be shipped and strung,
when most everyone, except Gil Bennett, acknowledges the presence of quick clay
at the North Spur – there is little to claim, except cover-up.
civil works job. When you can’t get even that right, when your quality control
regime will allow kilometers of faulty transmission line to be shipped and strung,
when most everyone, except Gil Bennett, acknowledges the presence of quick clay
at the North Spur – there is little to claim, except cover-up.
I can still
hear Ed Martin’s exhortations of the “hundred year project” as a giddy media drank
in the spin master’s braggadocio. Now, it is difficult to imagine Muskrat will
ever get a chance to age given the multiplicity of problems – including frazil
ice – that cause further delays.
hear Ed Martin’s exhortations of the “hundred year project” as a giddy media drank
in the spin master’s braggadocio. Now, it is difficult to imagine Muskrat will
ever get a chance to age given the multiplicity of problems – including frazil
ice – that cause further delays.
None of this
has subdued the Nalcor PR machine, however. Again, they are in high gear, getting
ready to exhort new beginnings, and to give caution to bloggers using
expressions uncomplimentary – like “avaricious” – as Hydro Quebec offers to
hide bad judgement, waste, extravagance, and incompetence in return for a “deal” expected to masquerade as “burying the hatchet”.
has subdued the Nalcor PR machine, however. Again, they are in high gear, getting
ready to exhort new beginnings, and to give caution to bloggers using
expressions uncomplimentary – like “avaricious” – as Hydro Quebec offers to
hide bad judgement, waste, extravagance, and incompetence in return for a “deal” expected to masquerade as “burying the hatchet”.
Of course, the
perfect way to bury a ‘crime’ is to change the narrative of Muskrat Falls.
Revise history. Excise and expunge the “boondoggle”. Bury it deep enough to make
it appear it had never existed. All the better if the cost of the waste and
incompetence are deferred to the next couple of generations.
perfect way to bury a ‘crime’ is to change the narrative of Muskrat Falls.
Revise history. Excise and expunge the “boondoggle”. Bury it deep enough to make
it appear it had never existed. All the better if the cost of the waste and
incompetence are deferred to the next couple of generations.
Recently, David
Vardy learned the extent to which Nalcor will go to keep their “boutiller” (screw-up) buried. The former public servant whose tenure included Clerk of the
Executive Council, President of the Marine Institute, Chair of the Public
Utilities Board, and critic of the Muskrat Falls project – set out to have the November 2, 2016 Report of the Independent Engineer laid bare.
Vardy learned the extent to which Nalcor will go to keep their “boutiller” (screw-up) buried. The former public servant whose tenure included Clerk of the
Executive Council, President of the Marine Institute, Chair of the Public
Utilities Board, and critic of the Muskrat Falls project – set out to have the November 2, 2016 Report of the Independent Engineer laid bare.
Vardy’s
story is disconcerting, as are so many others. Fortunately, it is supported
by written correspondence – not the easily denied verbal kind – thanks to the
Access to Information and the Protection of Privacy Act.
story is disconcerting, as are so many others. Fortunately, it is supported
by written correspondence – not the easily denied verbal kind – thanks to the
Access to Information and the Protection of Privacy Act.
This is how
the exhumation went down.
the exhumation went down.
David Vardy
wrote Nalcor on October 5, 2016 stating:
wrote Nalcor on October 5, 2016 stating: