Natural Resources
September 1, 2009
House of Assembly to Reconvene to Amend
Water Rights Act
The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale,
Minister of Natural Resources, announced today that she
will bring forward to the House of Assembly an amendment
to the Energy Corporation of Newfoundland and
Labrador Water Rights Act. The House of Assembly
will reconvene on Tuesday, September 8. This act
provides a legislative framework for the issuance of
water rights to the Energy Corporation (Nalcor Energy)
for the purpose of developing the Lower Churchill
Project.
In the course of negotiating a water
management agreement for the Churchill River, CF(L)Co
advised Nalcor that it felt aspects of the Energy
Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador Water Rights
Act infringed upon its water rights lease for the
Churchill Falls development. This was not the intent of
the act, and government has agreed to amend it so as to
avoid any ambiguity.
"This amendment is necessary in order
to facilitate an agreement between Nalcor Energy or its
subsidiary and CF(L)Co," said Minister Dunderdale. "As
these negotiations are currently underway, we wanted to
get into the House early and make this amendment to
avoid any uncertainty to the parties involved. We thank
the opposition for their cooperation on this matter and
we look forward to further discussion on the amendment
when the House reconvenes next week."
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Media contact:
Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-5282, 709-690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca
2009 09 01
3:40 p.m.