The imminent departure of Danny Williams will not affect the recently inked Lower Churchill Falls deal, according to Premier Darrell Dexter.
Dexter thanked Will?iams for his leadership on the deal between Nova Scotia Power and Nalcor that will see an energy corridor created between Muskrat Falls in Labrador and Nova Scotia.
“It’s always wonderful, of course, to have a great champion of a project like Danny Williams,” Dexter said, minutes after Williams announced he’ll step down as Newfoundland and Labrador’s ninth premier on Dec. 3.
“(But) he went out of his way to make sure everything about this project was in place, and I’m sure will continue … to fight for the interests of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Dexter said Kathy Dunderdale, Newfoundland’s deputy premier who will be taking over as premier on Dec. 4, is “every bit as committed” to the Muskrat Falls project as Williams is.
Williams’ announcement came one day after Dexter stressed the need for regional co-operation — including considering regional venture capital projects and procurement.
Dexter said he does not expect the change in leadership to stop what he sees as gathering momentum in the region.
“I think there is a momentum around Atlantic co-operation that has been started over the last couple of years that we can take advantage of,” said Dexter.
