Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec will meet Thursday in St. John’s for what they are calling a “historic partnership agreement.”
The announcement will be made jointly by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and Quebec Premier François Legault, according to a press release issued at noon Wednesday.
The announcement is scheduled for 2pm at The Rooms, and a livestream will be available on the government’s social media pages.
Energy Minister Andrew Parsons, Quebec Energy Minister Christine Frechette and Jennifer Williams of NL Hydro will also be in attendance.
The announcement is widely believed to be about the multibillion-dollar Churchill Falls hydroelectric power plant, which is largely owned by the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, but with most of the revenue going to Hydro-Québec. It’s flowing.
The agreement between the states is set to expire in 2041, but renegotiation to renew the contract for the Churchill Falls hydroelectric project could be within reach. as originally reported by radio canada on tuesday.
“I’m going to Newfoundland this afternoon, but that’s all I have to say at the moment,” Legault said in French on Wednesday morning.
election speculation
News of a possible deal over Churchill Falls has at least one politician doubting a state election will be held.
“We know what the election debate is going to be,” NDP Leader Jim Dinn told CBC Radio. St. John’s Morning Show The announcement was made on Tuesday ahead of the government’s official announcement.
“It’s going to be very short and very polarizing.”
Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador are expected to sign an agreement Thursday to end a dispute between the provinces over the multibillion-dollar Churchill Falls hydroelectric power plant.
Rumors are circulating about the Newfoundland and Labrador election. swirling for months. The state’s fixed-date election law schedules an election for Oct. 14, 2025, but Mr. Furey could call an election earlier than that date.
“I don’t trust either the PC Party or the Liberal Party when it comes to building a consensus. So my view is this: whatever agreement is reached, it should be debated in the House of Commons before the prime minister decides to build a consensus,” Dinh said. Ta.
Dinh wants all the details to be discussed in parliament so the public can decide whether it’s a good deal.
“Let’s air it thoroughly and make sure it’s really a good deal,” Ding said.
maybe you can win
Amanda Bittner, a political science professor at Memorial University, said a renegotiated deal could be a big win for Fury if the public accepts it.
“I think that would be a pretty big win for him. You know, it’s hard to say what the components of this plan will be, but our state is facing a lot of really big challenges right now. ,” Bittner said. Radio Canada.
There are no easy solutions to these issues, including cost of living, food insecurity, housing and health care, she added.
“There aren’t many easy wins at the moment, and I think a lot of voters are feeling pretty stressed out because of the increased pressure on them and their families and trying to make ends meet.”
Bittner said the provincial Liberals are concerned about the fallout from any perceived ties to the Trudeau government and are considering when to hold an election.
Bittner said it’s unclear whether the new agreement with Upper Churchill will affect the election.
“Probably not, but it can certainly help and hinder at the same time,” she said.
Newfoundland and Labrador relies on outside investment to build the Churchill Falls project, which has a 65-year contract with Hydro-Québec. For years, NL has captured a small portion of the revenue Hydro-Québec makes from the resale of its electricity.
The contract expires in 2041, but as the original agreement gradually expires, Newfoundland and Labrador politicians and experts say the province needs more leverage to secure better terms. assumed to have power.
St. John’s Morning Show8:51National League-Quebec deal on Churchill Falls could be within reach
After decades of conflict and years of negotiations, an agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec to renew the contract for the Churchill Falls hydroelectric project may be within reach. Patrick Butler of Radio Canada also participated in the briefing session.
Bittner said the agreement with Churchill Falls has many cultural and historical meanings in the Nara region, particularly in the province’s relationships with Canada and Quebec.
“How do we measure up compared to other states? How important are we to the country as a whole? And this is a big part of our kind of cultural heritage. I think it’s occupied,” Bittner said.
The public doesn’t know much about contract terms, she said, adding that contracts are very complicated and some people are preoccupied with other issues such as work or family.
“Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are generally telling themselves that Canada doesn’t care about us, that Quebec is more important to Canada than Newfoundland. I think a lot of resentment has been building up for a long time, Labrador. ”
He also said the state government may be “emphasizing” the new agreement, not only because of the symbolic role that Churchill Falls plays for the National League, but also because of the future implications of the renegotiated agreement. said that it was high.
“I think there’s a lot of anxiety in this moment for everyone involved,” Bittner said.
Details are now available
Meanwhile, Ding also questions the details of the new agreement, such as whether NL will get a better remuneration deal or whether it will have improved access to electricity, which is of particular interest to Labrador’s iron ore companies. He added that this is a problem for NDP MHA Jordan. Brown’s district in western Labrador includes two towns dependent on iron ore mining.
“If true, what does it mean for the development of Gull Island? [I] I heard it on the news,” Dinh said, referring to the long-planned but undeveloped Lower Churchill hydropower project.
“There are a lot of moving parts to this.”
download Free CBC News app Sign up for push alerts from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Please sign up Click here for the daily Headlines Newsletter. click Access the landing page here.
