The Official Opposition is pleased to see Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette meeting this week to continue discussions on the future of hydroelectric development on the Churchill River.
While Premier Wakeham has repeatedly suggested there are no, or only “arbitrary”, timelines attached to reaching a final agreement, Premier Fréchette has made it clear that any deal is at risk if it is not ratified before Quebec’s provincial election this fall. The Parti Québécois, who are currently leading in the polls, have recently made comments disputing the Labrador-Quebec border. It’s clear that if the Parti Québécois is elected, this agreement, and any foreseeable opportunity to finally correct the historic, lopsided Churchill Falls contract, could disappear.
The Official Opposition encourages both governments to continue working together in good faith to secure an agreement that finally rights decades of wrongs on the Churchill River and delivers the long-term benefits Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve.
Even if an updated MOU is reached in the coming weeks, Premier Wakeham will have very little time to fulfill his election promises to hold a referendum, debate the agreement in the House of Assembly, and conclude final agreements before Quebec’s election is called in late August. This is why we encouraged the Premier not to halt negotiations following the October 2025 Newfoundland and Labrador election because doing so wasted valuable time.
The MOU reached under our previous Liberal government was built on years of technical, financial, commercial, legal, and economic analysis by experienced and independent professionals to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador was negotiating from the strongest possible position. That work laid the foundation for an agreement capable of transforming the province’s economic future.
As negotiations continue, the Official Opposition encourages the Conservative government to rely on world-class experts to help finalize an agreement. Just as importantly, the government must be transparent about who is providing that advice.
Premier Wakeham secretly retained Jerome Kennedy and Bern Coffey months before their involvement was revealed only after questioning in the House of Assembly. Given the magnitude of this opportunity, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve both the best expertise available and complete transparency from the Conservative government. The names, qualifications, and backgrounds of those advising the province on one of the most significant resource negotiations in its history should be made public. The names, backgrounds and advice given to the Premier’s review panel continue to remain a secret, which is unacceptable.
This is a generational opportunity to secure a better future for Newfoundland and Labrador. The Official Opposition will continue to support efforts that strengthen the province’s negotiating position while holding the government accountable for ensuring the process is transparent and focused on achieving the best possible outcome for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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