Question period

On Wednesday Hydro-Quebec issued a press release that by Friday at least one journalist-like person was calling, in part, a “red flag”.

It’s passing mighty strange, though, that neither that journalist, nor any other, has flagged the real flaggables in this whole kerfuffle. Not only is there the big honkin’ question raised by the contrefactual “controversy” that’s been stirred up about a boundary dispute that doesn’t actually exist, there’s the big honkin’ question raised by the Newfoundland and Labrador government’s interjection into the La Romaine environmental assessment.

Now, the thing is, it is entirely valid for the province to question the environmental impact of the La Romaine project in Labrador. The Romaine does cross the provincial boundary – or, to be more accurate, its basin does; the river itself forms the boundary between the 52nd parallel and the height of land. Wild populations don’t know that there’s a political boundary there, and the provincial government is perfectly right to query what impact the four hydro dams and reservoirs, and other associated works, downstream in Quebec, may have upstream in Labrador.

But the questions posed by some un-named, un-titled person in the Newfoundland and Labrador government (and responded to in an attachment to the Hydro-Quebec press release) are most interesting; to wit:

As a general question, will the project have adverse environmental effects in Labrador?

There are 7 remote cottage titles issued in Labrador very close to the catchment area. What impact, if any, will there be on accessibility to these cottage titles?

What are the potential impacts this development might have for Wildlife Species in Labrador? The primary concerns regard wide ranging species that might have part of their range in or might spend part of their life cycle in the area to be flooded.

How significant will the loss of habitat associated with flooding be for woodland caribou herds (Red Wine and Lac Joseph herds in particular) that straddle the terrestrial interprovincial boundary?

How do any effects relate to the recovery goals outlined in the Québec and/or Newfoundland and Labrador Recovery Strategies for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal population?

What is the potential for increased road construction to provide increased access for illegal hunting activities as well as for increased disturbance to woodland caribou (snowmobile, ATV use etc.)?

Will there be any effects similar to the potential effects highlighted above for other large mammal species?

Wolverine are considered extirpated in Labrador. Does the project have the potential to negatively affect wolverine in the area this could have implications for recovery in Labrador?

Will the impoundment associated with the dam/reservoir at Centrale La Romaine-4 have any effect on inland fish species in Labrador?

What are the potential impacts on fish resources in the waters of Newfoundland and Labrador that are connected to the Romaine River system?

Can Hydro-Québec state with certainty that the project will not have any adverse effects on waterways and/or tributaries in Labrador?

Has Hydro-Québec considered whether other projects within or outside of Québec can address North American demand for clean renewable energy with a smaller environmental footprint than the Romaine project?

It’s a shame that the questions are not attributed to any one person.

Was it the Minister of Environment and Conservation (whoever that is)?

Was it the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (whoever that is)?Whoever it was, a journalist who’s really interested in flags, of whatever colour, would flag those questions and ask that person, or NALCO(R) or someone:

Sir, ma'am, don’t these questions, their premises, and the connected environmental concerns apply with equal vigour, mutatis mutandis, to the Lower Churchill project?