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 an announcement related to energy security and economic development.
The anticipation surrounding a potential new agreement on Churchill Falls energy has intensified in recent days. Fréchette is set to travel to Newfoundland to finalize the deal, as confirmed by Radio-Canada.
Wakeham’s office released a statement on Saturday evening, confirming the presence of Fréchette, Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville, and Hydro-Québec’s president and CEO, Claudine Bouchard, at the upcoming meeting on Monday.
Hydro-Québec issued a separate news release on Sunday inviting journalists to a closed-door briefing on Quebec’s energy security announcement set for Monday at 11 a.m. 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., according to a news release from Natural Resources Canada.
Although specifics are limited, Wakeham’s office has disclosed that the announcement will occur at 1:45 p.m. NT in St. John’s. The Prime Minister’s office later confirmed that Carney will also be present.
Insider sources familiar with the new agreement, who are not authorized to speak publicly, have revealed key details. The agreement ensures a guaranteed transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, enabling Newfoundland and Labrador to export up to that capacity. The provinces are expected to receive significantly more electricity than outlined in the previous memorandum of understanding, with Quebec potentially gaining around 10,000 megawatts and Newfoundland and Labrador receiving between 2,350 to 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 the turbines at the existing Churchill Falls plant. Notably, the new agreement incorporates wind power, a component absent from the 2024 memorandum signed by former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and former Quebec Premier François Legault.
