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. The purpose of the meeting is to make an announcement regarding energy security and economic development.
Recent conversations surrounding a new agreement on Churchill Falls energy have intensified in the past week. Fréchette is set to travel to Newfoundland to finalize and sign the agreement, as confirmed by Radio-Canada.
A news release from Wakeham’s office on Saturday evening confirmed the attendance of Fréchette, along with Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville and Hydro-Québec’s president and CEO, Claudine Bouchard, at the meeting on Monday.
Hydro-Québec has also issued a news release inviting reporters to a closed-door briefing on Monday at 11 a.m. regarding an announcement on Quebec’s energy security. The briefing will be led by Dave Rhéaume, Hydro-Québec’s executive vice-president.
Additionally, a media technical briefing is scheduled to take place in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. by Natural Resources Canada.
The announcement, set for 1:45 p.m. in St. John’s, will also have Prime Minister Carney in attendance, as confirmed by his office on Sunday.
The new agreement, according to sources familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly, includes a guaranteed transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, allowing Newfoundland and Labrador to sell up to that capacity to external markets. The provinces will receive a significant increase in electricity compared to previous agreements, with Quebec potentially receiving around 10,000 megawatts and Newfoundland and Labrador between 2,350 and 3,000 megawatts.
To boost electricity production, both provinces have agreed to enhance the hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and increase the generating capacity of turbines at the Churchill Falls plant. The agreement also incorporates wind power, a new addition not present in the previous memorandum of understanding signed in 2024.
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