Premier Wakeham is concerningly claiming that the Churchill Falls and Gull Island agreement “will sell itself” to the new Quebec government, while continuing to try to sell it to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians through an expensive, politically motivated taxpayer-funded ad campaign.
If Premier Tony Wakeham truly believes his Churchill Falls and Gull Island agreement will sell itself to the separatist Parti Québécois, perhaps it is because it is clear the deal is alarmingly good for Quebec. Quebec’s new Premier previously called the 2024 MOU “humiliating” for Quebec, but has now said Wakeham’s 2026 agreement “seems to be a good agreement” for Quebec.
Premier Wakeham acknowledges that he does not need to sell this agreement to the Parti Québécois because the benefits to Quebec are obvious. Quebec knows what is on the table: a 50-year agreement that provides Quebec with long-term access to Newfoundland and Labrador’s power while limiting our province’s ability to benefit from changing market conditions, ensuring Quebec gets all the upside, just like they did in 1969.
“Premier Wakeham believes this deal will ‘sell itself’ to Quebec, and he may be right because the deal is clearly great for Quebec,” says Official Opposition Leader John Hogan, KC. “The question is whether Premier Wakeham has done enough to protect the interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. This is not about whether Quebec will accept the deal. It is about whether the Premier negotiated a deal that is good enough for our province.”
Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott has dismissed concerns that a change in government in Quebec could impact the ongoing negotiations, saying, “I don’t think it makes a difference. At the end of the day, this is a negotiation between two power utilities.”
The Official Opposition questions this sentiment.
“Surely Minister Parrott understands that governments matter when it comes to major agreements of this magnitude,” says Energy Critic Fred Hutton. “His own government stalled negotiations for eight months, spent a million dollars on a so-called ‘independent review,’ changed the negotiating team, gave them a mandate, and then rushed to the finish line to get it done before the Quebec election.”
The Premier and Energy Minister have direct responsibility for these negotiations, and no deal will be signed without their approval. To suggest otherwise is to avoid their responsibility. Claiming this is simply a negotiation between two power utilities is misleading and ignores the government’s role.
The PC Government chose the review committee, established the mandate for the negotiations, and chose who would lead them, including appointing a former PC Cabinet Minister. Their own decisions make it clear that there is, indeed, a political role in this process.
Premier Wakeham should be concerned that Quebec’s new separatist government is embracing his deal and, more importantly, whether Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are getting the deal they deserve.
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