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This article was published 21/2/2018 (942 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Independent MLA Steven Fletcher launched a citizens' inquiry Wednesday into why Manitoba Hydro is heavily in debt, who's responsible and what can be done.

Fletcher is chairing an undetermined number of public hearings at the legislature, which will be live streamed on his Facebook page.

"The future of Manitoba is in jeopardy. We need to find out how it happened, who's responsible and hold them accountable," Fletcher told a news conference Wednesday morning. Since the government of Premier Brian Pallister won't do it, "It is up to us, the people of Manitoba, to do it ourselves."

Witnesses will appear before a panel consisting of engineering consultant Dennis Woodford, retired business manager Philip Blain and Brunkild farmer Esther Lenz, who had land expropriated for the Bipole 3 transmission line.

Fletcher made his announcement in front of a large Canadian flag flanked by two larger-than-life posters of him in Tory blue and white, though lacking any reference to the party that threw him out after he went rogue once too often. He also brought a large Manitoba provincial flag but could not find a place to put it up in view of the TV cameras.

Fletcher rejected any suggestions that what he's investigating is already known.

The Public Utilities Board is now studying more than two months of testimony and thousands of pages in reports from a $10-million-plus public hearing. The PUB is examining Hydro's long-term debt projections while it decides if the utility is justified in seeking 7.9 per cent annual rate increases for the next six years.

Fletcher was vague on who will appear before his inquiry. Hydro declined to comment on the hearings Wednesday.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca