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Pallister seeks greater transparency from Hydro

By: Larry Kusch

Monday, Sep. 17, 2012 at 12:03 PM | Comments: 5

MIKE DEAL/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

Brian Pallister

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservatives are demanding a joint economic and environmental review of Manitoba Hydro’s construction plans.

Tory Leader Brian Pallister said the review would ensure greater openness and transparency regarding $18 billion in development, including the BiPole III hydro transmission line and the proposed Keeyask and Conawapa generating stations in northern Manitoba.

"This is the largest proposed mega-project in Manitoba history," Pallister said of the three projects. He said Manitobans deserve to be informed about how their money is being spent before Hydro engages on a course of expansion that triples its debt.

At a news conference today, Pallister noted that Manitoba Hydro had a full, transparent and public review before constructing the Wuskwatim generating station, which opened earlier this year. He said he wants a similar review before Hydro embarks on any new construction.

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Posted by:Deborah Boschman

September 18, 2012 at 11:26 AM

The country of Germany is almost entirely energy SELF SUFFICIENT!

I believe that our current grid system is antiquated and UNABLE to sustain our increasing energy needs within our future.

Please refer to a documentary on the Passionate Eye of the CBC regarding our greed, gluttony and demand for energy within N.A.

In India, the first thing that happened in their time of crisis was that their grid system FAILED!

I think that there should be a push within EACH of our communities to become energy SELF SUFFICIENT.

We have become totally DEPENDENT, as communities, upon this aging, antiquated grid system.

WHAT are they doing in Germany that we SHOULD and/or COULD be doing here within each of our communities within North America?

Let us learn from Germany's great energy SUCCESS story and accomplishments.

MacLean's magazine and other articles repeatedly write about the significant economic successes of Germany.

Germany has risen up out of the ashes to become a leading, very prominent, central, significant, important and influencial energy and economic success story within Europe.

Let us COPY and do what they are doing within Germany, here within our own province.

I think that our dependence and reliance on Manitoba Hyrdo solely and upon an antiquated and increasingly demanding grid system is NOT a very forward thinking, progressive way to plan for our future, at all.

Our energy needs are only INCREASING due to global warming, etc.

Let's start planning ahead for our future

Posted by:Dallan

September 18, 2012 at 9:14 AM

Bob Brennan was one of the lowest paid CEO/Presidents in North America. IF I remember correctly, and since the amount any government employee who makes over $50k is available, he was only getting around $175,000 per year.

Posted by:Dallan

September 18, 2012 at 9:10 AM

I was of the understanding that Manitoba Hydro was a self sufficient Corporation that only required the Government to be a guarantor for lending. They make their paymnets for loans from the profits they make. They make profits mostly from the exports and the exports help to keep the domestic cost at one of the lowest in North America.
Im not associated in any way with MB Hydro but this was my understanding. In fact from what I am told MBHydro actually pays more back to the Gov of Manitoba in taxes than any other company.
So someone will have to enlighten me how they are using taxpayers money?

Posted by:turtles back

September 17, 2012 at 8:23 PM

Keep pushing for transparence Mr. Pallister. Hydro keeps increasing every 6mths these days! Selling hydro to the states is not working anymore, as they don't have the money!!

We need to "STOP" BiPole III, Keeyask and Conawapa hydro projects. The cost is to high for each and every Manitoban!!

Posted by:Deborah Boschman

September 17, 2012 at 12:37 PM

I was VERY UPSET over the weekend to find out that Manitoba Hydro and MTS TOP executives are supposedly being paid anywhere from $500,000 to one million dollars PER ANNUM!

I was also told that they REGULARLY give themselves RAISES of 2-3 million dollars whenever they feel like it.

LET'S LOOK INTO THIS and see if these allegations are factual, CORRECT or not.

They appear to be living HIGH off of the hog while the ordinary, regular folk have now been told to expect their Hydro rates to increase by 35%!

Well, this is just NOT ACCEPTABLE at all!

Yes, openness, transparency, accountability is DEFINITELY long overdue within Manitoba Hydro.

GOOD for Brian Pallister, a former teacher from the Gladstone area, for DEMANDING this!

GO, MR. PALLISTER, GO!

IF you don't demand this, the new political party, Manitoba Forward, certainly will!

The regular folk within Manitoba are BREAKING THEIR BACKS to pay for some of these Manitoba Hydro FAT CATS to live VERY HIGH on the hog!

IF this is occuring, this needs to be STOPPED/curbed now!

That's ENOUGH of this greed and opportunism from the top.

Let's hold their feet to the fire for ANY over indulgences and practices of greed and opportunism from the past.

Let's show some of these numbers to the ordinary people now!

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