The Telegram
Friday, May 17, 2002, p. A4
Williams on Voisey's warpath
Deborah Thomas
The Telegram
Danny Williams is making it his personal mission to make sure the people of Newfoundland and Labrador don't get a raw Voisey's Bay deal.
The Opposition leader is calling on the Grimes government to include a clause in any Voisey's Bay deal to state the agreement must be ratified by the House of Assembly first.
No such clause exists now, and Williams fears Inco will take legal action if, after a debate in the House of Assembly, the government has to make changes to it.
"Our responsibility here, as members of the legislature, is to make sure the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are protected, and the only way to do that is to see that deal," he said. "Such a simple clause will eliminate all legal risk."
Williams said the clause needs to be tight, fool-proof and clear, but also simply state that the House of Assembly must debate and approve it first. He's afraid a lawsuit could bankrupt the province.
"The premier does have a majority in this legislature. Why is he afraid of an open and a frank debate? Is he afraid there is going to be loopholes or flaws or problems with that deal?" he said.
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