Media Interviews by Richard McCandless as of 31 March 2024.
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Links to media interviews.
Blog
Nelson Bennett Government Use of ICBC and BC Hydro Funds
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Nelson Bennett's 28 December 2022 article in Business in Vancouver.
Public Inquiry Begins into Newfoundland's Muskrat Falls Project. September 16, 2018.
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A public inquiry is now underway designed to examin the approval process for the $12.7 billion hydroelectric dam. As Konrad Yakabuski writes: "Whether it involves provincially-owned hydroelectric behemoths in British Columbia, Manitoba or Quebec, or the Crown-owned nuclear-dominated Ontario Power Generation, politically-driven energy policies across Canada have saddled ratepayers and taxpayers with billions of dollars in extra debt."https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/muskrat-falls-inquiry-wont-save-newfoundlanders-from-a-127-billion-sinkhole/article37052291/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-inquiry-into-muskrat-falls-megaproject-boondoggle-to-begin-in-2/
Ontario Government Pressures Hydro One Board and CEO to Resign
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Expensive electricity was a major issue in the recent Ontario election. The new government succeeded in forcing the board and CEO Mayo Schmidt to resign, but lower prices have only been possible by transferring cost to taxpayers and future generations; https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-entire-ontario-hydro-one-board-to-resign-ceo-to-step-down/ and https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-doug-ford-kneecaps-hydro-one/ and https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-hydro-one-1.4743097 and https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-doug-ford-used-legislative-threat-to-oust-hydro-one-ceo-board/
Political Meddling Blamed for Ontario's High Electricity Rates. May 18, 2018.
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Barrie McKenna in the Globe and Mail political meddling for causing the high price of electricity in Ontario; https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-blame-political-meddling-not-ceo-pay-for-ontarios-dysfunctional/
Auditor General Carol Bellringer Moves to Clean Up BC Hydro's Books. January 10, 2018.
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BC Auditor General Carol Bellringer is preparing to become BC Hydro's external auditor, which will put more pressure on the government to allow BC Hydro to conform to national public sector accounting standards. See Les Leyne http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/les-leyne-watching-b-c-hydro-is-a-growth-industry-1.23137605 and Vaughn Palmer http://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-bellringer-anxious-to-plug-into-b-c-hydros-accounts
Finance Minister James Plans To Fix BC Hydro's Accounting Practices. October 25, 2017.
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Andrew MacLeod of The Tyee reports that Finance Minister Carole James intends to fix BC Hydro's accounting practices, but it will take time; https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/10/25/Fixing-BC-Hydro-Accounting/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=251017
Ontario manipulates Electricity Prices. March 4, 2017.
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The Globe and Mail is not impressed by the Ontario government's move to reduce the cost of electricity; http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/lower-electricity-rates-dont-fall-for-premier-wynnes-power-move/article34195391/ and http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/will-kathleen-wynnes-last-ditch-hydro-fix-just-add-to-the-mess/article34182155/ also an editorial by The National Post; http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/national-post-view-kathleen-wynnes-liberals-bail-themselves-out-with-public-money-again
Growing Debt at BC Hydro Threatens BC's Credit Rating. January 24, 2017.
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The latest Moody's report again warns that BC Hydro's growing debt is a concern as it may require a taxpayer bail-out; http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/b-c-s-credit-rating-at-risk-as-hydros-debt-grows
Government Controls Site C Public Relations. January 10, 2017.
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Rob Shaw (Vancouver Sun) reports on jinterviewhis with Hon. Bill Bennett, who says Site C is political; http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/cabinet-political-staff-control-b-c-hydros-public-relations-on-site-c-dam
Government Manipulating Hydro Finances. 15 June 2016.
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Andrew MacLeod in The Tyee writes about my 10 June 2016 presentation to the Utilities Commission respecting BC Hydro's 2016 rate request;http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/06/15/Government-Manipulating-BC-Hydro-Finances/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=150616
Auditor General Asked to Examine BC Hydro's 'Misleading' Accounting. 10 June 2016.
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Andrew Macleod in The Tyee reports on Arian Dix's request to Auditor General Bellringer to review BC Hydro's rate smoothing deferral accounts; http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/06/10/BC-Hydro-Misleading-Accounting/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100616
BC Hydro's Rates For 2016 to 2018. 15 June 2016.
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Andrew Macleod in The Tyee reviews my 10 June 2016 presentation to the BCUC panel reviewing BC Hydro's rates for 2016 to 2018, http://thetyee.ca/News/2016/06/15/Government-Manipulating-BC-Hydro-Finances/
Government Continues BC Hydro Rate Suppression. 13 September 2013.
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Vaughn Palmer reviews government control over BC Hydro rates in this September 2013 column; http://www.nationalpost.com/m/vaughn+palmer+utilities+commission+review+hydro+rates/8911020/story.html