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Would it not need approval by the utilities commission? Mungall agreed that it would, adding “we hope it goes forward.”

Redies: “The minister just announced today a rate freeze. But based on her answer, she’s saying it may or may not happen because the BCUC might decide it’s not appropriate. Is there a rate freeze or isn’t there?”

Mungall: “There is going to be an application for a rate freeze before the B.C. Utilities Commission.”

That, too, might have been the end of the story: minister clarifies press release. Then Green party Leader Andrew Weaver entered the fray.

“I feel that this is quite misleading.” he said. “I would like the minister to please clarify why the press release says, on the one hand, there’s a rate freeze, and now here today we understand that there’s not really a rate freeze but an application for a rate freeze.”

Perhaps taken aback to be accused of misleading the public by the NDP’s partner in power sharing, Mungall professed to be mystified: “I am sorry that he finds it misleading. I personally am curious as to how he does.”

The explanation was coming. But first Redies had a question: What if the commission were to say “no”?

Mungall: “That’s a fair question, absolutely, and we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it … So I just want to be very clear for the record that I’m not prejudging, and nobody in this government is prejudging, the outcome at the commission.”

Weaver again: “I’m really troubled by what’s being revealed. It is very clear from that press release that the government is telling British Columbians that they are going to freeze Hydro rates by April 2018. That’s the only message that you can take from this press release.”