A new lead negotiator has been appointed to lead the province through the final stretch of negotiations on Churchill Falls.
Gary Smith, a former CEO of Newfoundland Power and executive at Fortis, has been appointed as the new lead negotiator.
He replaces Barry Perry, who had been leading the process to this point.
Perry will now be transitioning into an advisor role for the negotiations.
Premier Tony Wakeham (VOCM News)
Perry says he made the decision to step away months ago, citing time having to be spent away from family as one of the main factors, and says he agreed to stay on until a replacement could be found.
Premier Tony Wakeham calls the change a “natural progression.”
Wakeham says when he asked Perry to join the team he knew he only had limited time because of his prior commitments, and he “gave up all of that” to lead the negotiating team. He says that’s why it was important to have Perry stay on as an advisor.
