ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — They can’t tell you details about the Muskrat Falls project and many don’t follow it closely in the news, but residents of the St. John’s metro region who spoke to The Telegram Tuesday afternoon know enough to realize it has caused a major mess in the economy and substantial worries among residents.
“How could they let this happen?” said Nancy Eddy Connolly, who was at the Avalon Mall shopping with her daughter. “I’ve only seen bits and pieces about it, but I can tell you no other (project) in this country would go over budget like this and no other government would let that happen.
“There’s lots of blame to go around, but we’re the ones who are paying for it.”
Eddy Connolly is not alone. Hours after a scathing report from the Muskrat Falls Inquiry was released to the public by Premier Dwight Ball and Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady Tuesday afternoon, people at the Avalon Mall and Memorial University weighed in on the hydroelectric project, which has ballooned in cost from $6.2 billion to more than $12.7 billion since it was sanctioned on 2012. It is nearly finished and now represents approximately 30 per cent of the province's debt.
“Anything that doubles in cost, somebody boo-booed,” said Sam Johnson, who was having coffee with friends. “I’m not so concerned about it as I am for my children and grandchildren."
He pointed out that it’s an example of how the province has a history of mismanaging major projects.
Marissa Little, who works at the Avalon Mall, said she stopped following news about Muskrat Falls, but it’s still a big topic of conversation for many members of her family.
“The project was a nuisance to begin with,” she said. “I hear my parents talk about it all the time. It’s a big stressor on everyone.”
Angela Saint said there’s so much stress and bad news surrounding Muskrat Falls, she can’t bear to hear any more about it.
“I just can’t pay attention to it anymore for my own mental health. It’s just too much for too long,” she said. “I change the channel as soon as it comes on TV.”
Her co-worker, Jackie Rice, added, “Does it really matter to (the government) what the people think? They’re going to do what they’re doing anyway.”
At Memorial University in the education building, Tim Williams of Mount Pearl admits he doesn’t follow what’s going on with the project.
“I’m focusing on other things, like my academics,” he said.
At Memorial’s Queen Elizabeth II Library, clerk Nicole Cahill happened to be reading a story about the Muskrat Falls Inquiry report on The Telegram’s website.
“I’ve seen bits and pieces about it, but I’m really concerned about what’s going to come of all this,” she said. “I’m a single mother with three kids, and my light bill last month was the most it ever was. So, I’m thinking, what’s it going to be down the road?
“They really should be thinking about how it’s really affecting people.”
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