While the Conservative Government continues trying to convince Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to accept its new Churchill Falls and Gull Island agreement, Quebec politicians are openly celebrating the deal as a major win for their province.
Following last Thursday’s narrowly decided vote in the House of Assembly, Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said the agreement she negotiated “paves the way for new energy capacities with more than 10,000 MW that can power up to 3 million households” and guarantees Quebec electricity “for the next 50 years” at a price that “defies all competition.”
That is a very different message from the one Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are hearing from Premier Tony Wakeham. Quebec is highlighting the additional energy it will receive, the long-term security of its electricity supply, and the competitive price it will pay.
It is becoming very clear that Premier Wakeham is pushing through a deal that gives the long-term upside to Quebec. Hydro-Quebec documents also reveal that under the 2024 MOU, Quebec would have paid 6 cents per kWh. Under the 2026 deal, Quebec will pay 5.5 cents per kWh, adjusted for inflation.
Meanwhile, the Parti Québécois has gone from sharply criticizing the previous Churchill Falls MOU to saying it would maintain the new agreement. In December 2024, PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon called the previous agreement “humiliating for Quebec” and argued that Quebec was giving too much to Newfoundland and Labrador. Earlier this month, St-Pierre Plamondon said a PQ government would not tear up the new agreement, adding: “What we’re getting from Hydro-Québec is that it would be a good agreement.”
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve to know why the Conservative Government believes this is the best deal for our province when the government on the other side of the negotiating table is publicly highlighting all of the upside it is getting.
The Official Opposition supports developing the Churchill River, unlocking its tremendous economic potential and creating good-paying jobs. But Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should not have to take Premier Wakeham’s word for it. They deserve a deal that protects this province’s long-term interests, maximizes the value of our resources, and includes the appropriate safeguards, oversight and transparency.
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