January 27, 2021

Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg MB—The Manitoba NDP is calling on the Premier to release his multi-million dollar politically-motivated review of Manitoba Hydro in order to shed light on the PC Government’s plans for Manitoba Hydro International, Manitoba Hydro Telecom and other parts of the Crown Corporation.

“Manitoba Hydro belongs to all Manitobans. Families and businesses are feeling the impacts of the PCs December hydro rate increase and they deserve to know what comes next in Pallister’s agenda for Manitoba Hydro,” said Wab Kinew, leader of the Manitoba NDP. “Pallister needs to stop hiding the Wall report from Manitobans and tell the truth about his plans to privatize Manitoba Hydro.”

In October 2019 the PCs announced that former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall would complete the Government’s inquiry into Manitoba Hydro. Wall’s consulting company, Flying W Consulting, billed the Manitoba Government for nearly $1 million dollars over the course of 2020. The Wall Report was required to be submitted to Government on October 31st, 2020.

“In the middle of a pandemic the Pallister PCs gave a million dollars to a former Conservative Premier to lay the groundwork for an attack on our most important Crown Corporation”, said Adrien Sala, NDP Critic for Manitoba Hydro. “Manitobans deserve to know why the Government spent millions on a political review while also raising rates on ordinary families and small businesses.”

The Wall report was required by Order in Council to be submitted to Government by October 31st, 2020.

In just the past year, the Pallister PCs have repeatedly interfered in Manitoba Hydro: Secretary of the Treasury Board Paul Beauregard directed Manitoba Hydro Telecom to not bid on a Government contract that was ultimately awarded to Bell/MTS; sold off a wholly owned subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro, Teshmont; rammed through legislation bypassing the Public Utilities Board and raised Hydro rates on families by 2.9%; and interfered in Manitoba Hydro International preventing them from conducting business costing ratepayers millions.