SELINGER MISLEADING MANITOBANS

Press Release- 02/10/2010

SELINGER MISLEADING MANITOBANS

Cullen calls on premier to retract blatantly false statement on BiPole

Premier Greg Selinger and his Hydro Minister Rosann Wowchuk have put incorrect information on the public record, says Progressive Conservative Hydro Critic Cliff Cullen.

In the Brandon Sun today, both Selinger and Wowchuk asserted that Progressive Conservatives do not support the construction of BiPole III and are trying to delay it by three years.

Cullen said those statements are unequivocally false.

“Making false statements like this is below the dignity of the premier’s office,” Cullen said. “With so much at stake for Manitoba on this project, I think it’s important the Premier Selinger clear the air and retract these false statements.”

Cullen said Hydro has been planning to build an east side line for 20 years. He said if anything will delay construction past 2017, it’s the NDP’s political directive, forcing Hydro down the longer, $640 million more expensive west side route – not Manitobans standing up to government and demanding answers.

“Had the NDP listened to experts and engineers, the BiPole could have been completed by 2015,” Cullen said. “Now Manitobans are demanding answers and the NDP is blaming us for trying to help get those answers.”

Cullen said the premier’s misleading statements are damage control after over 100 western Manitoba residents voiced opposition to west side Bipole line at a public meeting last week in Minnedosa.

“Manitoba’s next BiPole line is critical for Manitoba’s economic future. That much has never been disputed,” Cullen said. “The only question that remains is when will Greg Selinger see the light and realize Manitoba cannot afford to waste $640 million tax dollars on a longer and more environmentally–damaging west side line.”