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 on a joint announcement related to energy security and economic development. The talks regarding a potential new agreement concerning Churchill Falls energy have intensified in recent days, with Radio-Canada confirming Fréchette’s visit to Newfoundland for a signing ceremony.
A news release from Wakeham’s office, issued late Saturday, disclosed 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 released a statement inviting journalists to a closed briefing session on Monday at 11 a.m., regarding Quebec’s energy security, to be led by Dave Rhéaume, the company’s executive vice-president.
Additionally, Natural Resources Canada announced a media technical briefing in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. Wakeham’s office provided limited details about the announcement, revealing only that it will take place at 1:45 p.m. in St. John’s. Later on Sunday, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed Carney’s attendance at the event.
According to insider sources, the new agreement entails guaranteed transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, allowing Newfoundland and Labrador to sell up to that capacity to external markets. The deal is expected to result in a substantial increase in electricity allocation for both provinces compared to the previous memorandum of understanding, with Quebec potentially receiving around 10,000 megawatts and Newfoundland and Labrador receiving between 2,350 to 3,000 megawatts.
To achieve the heightened electricity production, the parties have agreed to enhance the hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and boost the generating capacity of turbines at the existing Churchill Falls plant. Notably, the revised agreement now includes wind power, a component absent from the previous 2024 MOU signed by former premiers Andrew Furey and François Legault.
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