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All Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Citizens are invited to attend the second round of public meetings to review the Wuskwatim Project Development Agreement:
• Nelson House: Tuesday, March 23, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Duncan Wood Memorial Hall
• Leaf Rapids: Wednesday, March 24, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m,. Legion Centre
• South Indian Lake: Wednesday, March 24, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m,. Community Hall
• Thompson: Thursday,
March 25, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m,. Juniper Centre
• Winnipeg: Monday,
March 29, 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Indian and Metis Friendship Centre
Click here for more information (Poster PDF 600 kb)
Special Notice
At these PDA Review meet and greets Chief Jim Moore will also briefly discuss NCN Governance and the multi-year Taskinigahp Trust Plan.
For further information and discussion on these important topics NCN Members are encouraged to attend the April 21 Chief and Council General Assembly on Governance and the Trust Plan.
The PDA Review is intended to ensure our agreement continues to offer maximum potential benefits to NCN considering the global economic changes and other factors that have occurred since the document was signed. A series of community meet and greets have been scheduled to inform NCN Citizens of the topics being reviewed.
The Review will Take Into Account…
• The increased cost of the project
• Changes to the economic environment such as fluctuations in the value of the Canadian dollar that could affect financial returns from Wuskwatim power exports
• Newer agreements with other First Nations that provide different arrangements
• Employment performance
NCN MEMBERS ATTEND FIRST ROUND OF PDA REVIEW MEETINGS
The first round of the PDA review meetings concluded Tuesday, October 20,2009 with a final meeting in Winnipeg at Thunderbird House. 
Other meetings were held in Nelson House, Leaf Rapids, South Indian Lake and Thompson the week before. Total NCN Citizen attendance at all meetings was modest at just under 300, with the largest attendance in Winnipeg, but attendees were engaged and interested.
Each meeting started with an overview from Chief Jim Moore,followed by Wuskwatim portfolio holder Marcel Moody providing the main presentation which included an update on the Wuskwatim project and benefits received so far and why the PDA review was necessary and what it would cover. NCN’s professional legal, business, economic and technical advisors were on hand and were available to respond to questions.
 
Question periods followed the presentations with most questions concerning jobs and employment issues related to Wuskwatim. Attendees also had an opportunity to complete a question and comment form, and the answers to all questions will be posted on the NCN website and provided at the next round of PDA review meetings set for winter 2010.
Councillor Moody’s presentation explained the reasons for the PDA review which included the changing circumstance surrounding the project:
• The fluctuating value of the Canadian dollar vs the U.S. dollar and the volatility of the economy that independently or together can affect the profitability of Wuskwatim’s export power sales once the station starts operating in 2001;
• The escalating construction cost for Wuskwatim that has doubled to $1.2 billion since negotiations first began;
• The recent signing of the Joint Keeyask Development Agreement with other northern First Nations, which includes provisions that differ from those in the PDA that need to be reviewed to see if similar provisions could be adapted to benefit NCN’s agreement.
The other focus of the presentation covered the two main areas of the PDA that the review will examine. These include:
• Commercial Terms which cover the business arrangements of the deal including such things as when NCN will have to provide its investment money, how much money NCN can borrow from Hydro, and different options for being a partner through common shares or preferred shares.
• Operational jobs that cover broad employment opportunities within Manitoba Hydro, aside from Wuskwatim constructions jobs. Commitments to develop such opportunities are written into the PDA as well as the earlier Agreement in Principal.
The review is not a reopening of the PDA, but could result in supplementary agreements to cover any changes or additions.
The next two rounds of meetings will be held in the winter and spring of 2010.
The Wuskwatim Implementation Office is coordinating a review of the Wuskwatim Project Development Agreement (PDA) to ensure its terms continue to meet the needs and expectations of NCN Citizens given changes in the global economy. This review is not intended to reopen the PDA but could possibly result in a supplementary agreement with additional options to the original PDA.
Read More in the PDA Review Newsletter
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