Happy Valley-Goose Bay Case Study

At the heart of Labrador lies Happy Valley-Goose Bay, a small town with a population of around 7,500 residents. The town is located on the coast of Lake Melville and the Churchill River, also known as the Grand River by the people of NunatuKavut because it is the longest river in Atlantic Canada. NunatuKavut means "Our Ancient Land,” and is the territory of the Southern Inuit, who reside primarily in southern and central Labrador.

“Our people lived in Labrador long before Europeans set foot on North American soil. As it was in times of old, and still today, we are deeply connected to the land, sea and ice that make up NunatuKavut,” said Todd Russell, the President of the NunatuKavut Governing Council speaking by phone from his office in Happy

Muskrat Falls is a multi-billion-dollar project on the lower Churchill River, about 25 kilometers west of Happy Valley-Goose Bay that is being built by Nalcor Energy, a Crown corporation of the Newfoundland and Labrador government. The company says the power generated by the project, which consists of two dams and a powerhouse, will help keep electricity rates stable for consumers in the long term. But many residents fear that the consequences are far worse. They believe that if Nalcor doesn’t clear the reservoir area properly before they flood it, it could cause methylmercury contamination in their waters. Furthermore, there is a risk of mudslides and of the George River Caribou herd loosing their breeding

“The construction and operation of Muskrat Falls will mean significant employment and economic benefits for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, long-term, clean, renewable power, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the province’s electricity system and diversification of the Newfoundland and Labrador