Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit St. John’s on Monday to hold discussions with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette. They are set to make a joint announcement related to energy security and economic development. The talks regarding a potential new agreement concerning Churchill Falls energy have intensified in recent days. Radio-Canada has verified that Fréchette will be traveling to Newfoundland to finalize the agreement.
Wakeham’s office released a statement late Saturday evening, confirming the attendance of Fréchette, along with Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville and Hydro-Québec’s president and CEO, Claudine Bouchard, at the announcement on Monday. Hydro-Québec announced a closed-door briefing on Quebec’s energy security to be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, with the participation of Dave Rhéaume, Hydro-Québec’s executive vice-president of energy and regulatory strategy and industrial activities. Additionally, Natural Resources Canada disclosed that a media technical briefing will take place in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m.
The announcement in St. John’s is scheduled for 1:45 p.m., with the added presence of Prime Minister Carney, as confirmed by the Prime Minister’s office. Sources with inside information, speaking anonymously, have revealed key details about the new agreement. Notably, the deal guarantees a transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, enabling Newfoundland and Labrador to export up to that capacity to external markets. The agreement also entails a significant increase in electricity allocation for both Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador compared to the previous memorandum of understanding, with Quebec potentially receiving around 10,000 megawatts and Newfoundland and Labrador securing between 2,350 to 3,000 megawatts.
To achieve the boost in electricity production, both provinces have agreed to enhance the hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and increase the generating capacity of turbines at the existing Churchill Falls plant. Furthermore, the new agreement incorporates wind power, a component absent from the 2024 MOU signed by former Liberal premier Andrew Furey and former Quebec premier François Legault.
