Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit St. John’s on Monday to engage in discussions with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette concerning energy security and economic development. The trio is expected to make a joint announcement on these matters.
Recent talks revolving around a potential new agreement on energy from Churchill Falls have intensified in the past week. Fréchette’s visit to Newfoundland has been confirmed by Radio-Canada for the signing of the agreement.
Wakeham’s office released a statement late Saturday evening confirming the attendance of Fréchette, Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville, and Hydro-Québec’s president and CEO, Claudine Bouchard, at the upcoming meeting scheduled for Monday.
Hydro-Québec issued a press release inviting journalists to a closed-door briefing on Quebec’s energy security announcement to be held on Monday at 11 a.m. This session will involve Dave Rhéaume, Hydro-Québec’s executive vice-president of energy and regulatory strategy and industrial activities.
In addition, Natural Resources Canada announced a media technical briefing in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. NT.
Although few details have been disclosed by Wakeham’s office, the announcement is set to take place at 1:45 p.m. NT in St. John’s. The Prime Minister’s office later confirmed that Carney will also be present at the event.
Sources with insider knowledge, who are not authorized to speak publicly, have disclosed some information about the new agreement. Notably, there will be guaranteed transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, enabling Newfoundland and Labrador to sell up to that capacity to external markets.
Furthermore, sources suggest that each province will receive significantly more electricity compared to the previous memorandum of understanding. Quebec could potentially receive around 10,000 megawatts, while Newfoundland and Labrador could secure between 2,350 and 3,000 megawatts.
To achieve the increase in electricity production, both parties have agreed to enhance the hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and boost the generating capacity of the turbines at the existing Churchill Falls plant. The new agreement also includes the integration of wind power, a component absent in the 2024 memorandum of understanding signed by former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and former Quebec Premier François Legault.