Stephenville councillors flew back from conference in Germany on John Risley's private jet
CBC
Three members of the Stephenville council and the town manager flew back from a conference in Europe on a private jet owned by the billionaire businessman who wants to create a green hydrogen industry in western Newfoundland.
Mayor Tom Rose said they did nothing wrong, and noted that the decision saved money for town residents. On top of that, he said it was a great opportunity for council to discuss economic development opportunities with Nova Scotia businessman John Risley.
"We really didn't look at it as a gift because there was no personal gain," Rose told CBC News.
"We were there representing council, and because we signed an MOU, which was technically a business transaction, that we would work together on our cohesive economic deliverables on both sides of the equation. We know that we'll sit at the table. They're going to want to pay taxes. They want the town to be operating very efficiently."
Meanwhile, the head of Memorial University's political science department is raising questions about how all this looks.
"Optics are an issue all the time in politics," Alex Marland said in an interview.
"And the big issue, of course, is any time we hear public officials interacting with people who are very wealthy, immediately the public sensitivity increases about whether the public's best interests are at heart."
World Energy GH2 is aiming to build massive wind farms and produce green hydrogen in the Stephenville-Port au Port area beginning in 2025. A provincial environmental assessment is in progress.
Risley is chairman and CEO of CFFI Ventures Inc., the registered owner of the Bombardier BD-700 1A10 ultra-long-range jet the Stephenville councillors flew on.
Risley is also chairman of World Energy GH2.
Neither Risley nor World Energy GH2 granted an interview.
In a statement, World Energy GH2 said the Stephenville delegation was in Hamburg to learn about what the development of hydrogen might mean for their community.
"The World Energy GH2 team was there as well, and we were happy to be able to offer what were otherwise empty seats for the ride home," the company noted.
The town delegation to the conference included Rose, Deputy Mayor Susan Fowlow, Coun. Myra White and town manager Colin Maddock. Rose was the only one to grant an interview.
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