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 regarding energy security and economic development. There have been increasing talks about a potential new agreement concerning Churchill Falls energy, with Radio-Canada confirming Fréchette’s visit to Newfoundland for the signing of the agreement.
A news release from Wakeham’s office, issued late on Saturday, revealed that Fréchette, Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville, and Hydro-Québec’s President and CEO Claudine Bouchard will be present at the event on Monday. Hydro-Québec also issued a separate news release inviting reporters to a closed briefing on an announcement related to Quebec’s energy security, to be held on Monday at 11 a.m. with Dave Rhéaume, Hydro-Québec’s executive vice-president.
Additionally, a media technical briefing is set to take place in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. by Natural Resources Canada. The announcement in St. John’s is scheduled for 1:45 p.m., where the Prime Minister will also be in attendance.
Sources familiar with the matter, not authorized to speak publicly, have disclosed some details about the new agreement. It includes a guaranteed transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, allowing Newfoundland and Labrador to sell up to that amount to external markets. The agreement also specifies an increase in electricity supply for both provinces compared to the previous memorandum of understanding, with Quebec potentially receiving around 10,000 megawatts and Newfoundland and Labrador receiving at least 2,350 megawatts, possibly up to 3,000.
To achieve the boosted electricity production, the agreement involves the development of a more powerful hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and an increase in the generating capacity of turbines at the existing Churchill Falls plant. Furthermore, the new agreement incorporates wind power, a component not included in the previous memorandum signed in 2024.
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