Federal environmental permit for Muskrat Falls could be reviewed, says Yvonne Jones

Labrador Liberal MP Yvonne Jones says the federal fisheries minister may look at a request for a review of a federal permit granted for the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project, which has been the focus of escalated protests this week.

Protestors have disrupted operations at Muskrat Falls since Saturday, in a final effort to halt the start of reservoir flooding, which they feel was not properly prepared and carries a risk of methylmercurypoisoning in the region'swildlife. Protestors also took the issue to the steps ofConfederation Building in St. John's on Monday.

Jones, who is also parliamentarysecretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, spoke to reporters in Ottawa following a day that sawat least nine people arrested at the Labrador protests for disobeying acourt order to stay out of the work site.

• Protesters arrested at Muskrat Falls site released

"I have asked the Minister to do a review of the environmental conditions that were supposed to be met when a permit was issued by the federal government,"Jones said.

"I'll wait to hear from him on that, but if the conditions were not being met when a permit was issued, obviously then there will be a federal responsibility to deal with that."

Need for a resolution

Jones said she is concerned with what's happening with the protests, but said ultimately it will be up to the Newfoundland and Labrador government and the crown corporation Nalcor to work it out. However she said the federal government does have jurisdiction when it comes to the permit it issued regarding environmental conditions of the project.

She said she expects a decisionfromMinister DominicLeBlanc on the reviewto happen in "next few days."

Jones referredto Monday's arrests as"unfortunate" and would like to see the provincial government and Nalcorwork something out with those protesting before the planned flooding of the reservoir, which Nalcor says it will begin at any time.

"I'm disappointed that people were arrested.Iknow these people personally. They're absolutely outstandingcitizens and they have legitimate concerns," she said.

"There is time to really look at what needs to be done here tohelp mitigate any impact."