'Big scar'

Opposition to Nalcor Energy's proposal to build a power corridor through Gros Morne National Park is growing every day.

Norris Point's Greg Knott started a Facebook group and an online petition on Feb. 20 to protest the provincial energy corporation's pitch to run a 200-metre-wide corridor from the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project through 64 km of the national park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

By Feb. 24, more than 400 people had signed the petition and 1,650 people joined the Facebook group.

"I was surprised I got one person to sign up," Mr. Knott told the Pen. "I felt it was important to create a forum to allow the public to express its own disappointment with a government proposal which would damage this provincial and national treasure."

Mr. Knott said the Facebook group and petition are not protests of development but a public protest against harming the environmental, visual and economic integrity of the national park.

"There's a lot of disapproval - it's going to be a big scar on the landscape," he said.

Nalcor Energy's preferred route, to cut costs, is to run the line from Gull Island, Labrador, across the Strait of Belle Isle and follow Route 430 south along the Northern Peninsula until it meets the Trans-Canada Highway to continue to Soldier's Pond, Newfoundland.

During a media scrum in Corner Brook last month, Premier Danny Williams said the transmission line would follow the existing line.

"We would assume that would be acceptable," said the premier. "If there are legitimate concerns, they will have to be addressed, but the officials at Nalcor have the answers to these concerns and, hopefully, it can be worked out. I find it unusual that park officials came out so early and expressed the fact they were against this, but we do need to hear them out."

Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador (HNL) is supporting Parks Canada's position against the proposed route through the national park.

"HNL supports hydro development in Newfoundland and Labrador as clean energy sources, but we strongly believe that we have to hold our sacred places sacred," said HNL president Bruce Sparkes.

"Although the alternative corridor passing around Gros Morne is the more difficult and expensive route, the value of Gros Morne National Park to the province cannot be undervalued in these negotiations."

Premier Williams said replacing the existing lines would upgrade oil-fired, electricity-generating facilities to cleaner, greener hydroelectric power, which is a perk Parks Canada should consider.

"When park officials look at what the trade-off happens to be for the benefits we get, at the end of the day...I think they will see the benefit."