ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Muskrat Falls Inquiry Commissioner Richard LeBlanc has been granted a three-month extension for the final report from the Inquiry.
Leblanc wrote a letter to Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady on Nov. 27 asking for the extension, which was granted Friday.
“As you are aware, this Inquiry has had to deal with a very complex project and complex subject matter, numerous witnesses and parties, as well as a review of literally over four thousand exhibits,” LeBlanc wrote in the letter.
“A very tight schedule was set by me so that hearings would be completed by mid-August 2019 to permit enough time to complete the Report. Despite the effort and commitment of myself and Commission staff, unfortunately, we are not in a position to complete the Report by December 31, 2019.”
LeBlanc said the bulk of the report has been written and he expects to complete it soon, but he needs more time for compilation, editing and printing of the report. The extension will last until March 31, 2020.
LeBlanc said he will do his best to keep the costs of the inquiry to a minimum.
“I am pleased to report at this time that direct spending by this Commission of Inquiry, including for legal counsel for parties with standing as well as Commission counsel and staff, is well below the amount budgeted by Government,” LeBlanc wrote.
The government had budgeted $33 million for the inquiry, which held its last hearing in August in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
