Hydro executive cleared, will continue Keeyask board work: Crown corp.
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This article was published 03/12/2018 (2251 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A Manitoba Hydro vice-president has been cleared of wrongdoing in his leadership role on northern hydroelectric development, the Crown corporation says, following an internal investigation.
Lorne Midford voluntarily resigned as board chairman of the Keeyask Hydropower Limited Partnership in September, hours before York Factory First Nation’s chief called for his removal over allegations of racism, discrimination and sexual violence at the hands of workers at the massive Keeyask construction project.
He has retained his leadership role on the board, but the chairman position remained vacant, pending nominations from First Nations partners in the KHLP, a Hydro spokesman said by email Monday.
In an article in the Nov. 22 edition of the utility’s internal newsletter, Hydrogram, Hydro president Kelvin Shepherd said an independent investigation into allegations against Midford concluded “there has been no misconduct by Lorne, and that he has met the high standards I expect of all executives and employees of Manitoba Hydro.”
After the internal report – which was not made public – exonerated him, Shepherd said in the newsletter, “Lorne will continue to be responsible for Manitoba Hydro’s executive leadership of the Keeyask project.”
The announcement was confirmed Monday by the Crown corporation.
“Mr. Midford voluntarily stepped down as KHLP chair to ensure an open and objective review of the allegations,” spokesman Bruce Owen said in an email.
“He is, and remains, vice-president of generation and wholesale, that never changed. He also remains in a leadership role on the KHLP board.”
York Factory First Nation, Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation are partnered with Hydro on the Keeyask generating station project, located about 725 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg on the lower Nelson River.
On Sept. 6, York Factory Chief Leroy Constant called for Midford’s removal from the board, citing an allegation of harassment and inappropriate behaviour, stemming from an emergency board meeting Aug. 30.
York Factory board member Louisa Constant said the Hydro executive took issue with her for preparing a media statement that was sent to the Free Press. Constant alleged Midford “threatened the board would no longer review the communications protocol.”
The First Nations partners said they thought they’d made their position clear: they should be involved in KHLP communications in matters of racism and violence.
The allegation was part of the wider platform of allegations against Manitoba Hydro. Constant referred to systemic and structural biases within the Crown corporation that allowed for the perpetuation of racism and violence on northern development projects dating to the 1950s.
Allegations of racism and abuse in the community by Manitoba Hydro workers against Indigenous peoples were outlined in a Manitoba Clean Environment Commission report released by the province Aug. 21.
alexandra.paul@freepress.mb.ca
History
Updated on Monday, December 3, 2018 6:55 PM CST: Adds photo
Updated on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 7:32 AM CST: Adds missing words