On Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit St. John’s to confer with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette about what they are terming “an announcement concerning energy security and economic development.”
Discussions surrounding a new agreement regarding Churchill Falls energy have intensified in the past week. Radio-Canada has verified that Fréchette is traveling to Newfoundland to formalize an agreement.
Shortly after 7:30 p.m. NT on Saturday, Wakeham’s office released a statement confirming that Fréchette, along with Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville and Claudine Bouchard, Hydro-Québec’s president and CEO, will participate in the meeting on Monday.
Hydro-Québec also sent out a news release on Sunday, inviting journalists to a private briefing about an announcement related to Quebec’s energy security, scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. This session will feature Dave Rhéaume, Hydro-Québec’s executive vice-president for energy and regulatory strategy and industrial activities.
Additionally, Natural Resources Canada has announced a technical media briefing taking place in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. NT.
Wakeham’s office provided limited information, stating only that the announcement is set for 1:45 p.m. NT in St. John’s.
Late Sunday, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Carney will also be present at the event.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham are making an energy announcement in St. John’s on Monday. (CBC)
What is currently known about the impending agreement—verified by sources with direct knowledge who cannot speak publicly—reveals that there will be assured transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, allowing Newfoundland and Labrador to sell that amount to external markets.
As first reported by Radio-Canada, sources indicate that each province will receive substantially more electricity than was outlined in the previous memorandum of understanding, with Quebec gaining nearly 40 percent more and Newfoundland and Labrador receiving between 25 and 60 percent more.
Quebec may obtain approximately 10,000 megawatts, while Newfoundland and Labrador could secure at least 2,350 megawatts, potentially rising to 3,000.
To achieve this increase in electricity generation, both parties have consented to develop a more powerful hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and to enhance the turbine capacity at the existing Churchill Falls plant.
The new agreement will also encompass wind energy, which was excluded from the 2024 MOU signed by former Liberal Premier Andrew Furey and former Quebec Premier François Legault.
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