Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit St. John’s on Monday for a meeting with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette to make an announcement regarding energy security and economic development. The discussions about a potential new agreement concerning Churchill Falls energy have intensified recently, with Radio-Canada confirming Fréchette’s visit to Newfoundland for a signing ceremony.
Wakeham’s office released a statement on Saturday evening confirming the attendance of Fréchette, Quebec’s Energy Minister Bernard Drainville, and Hydro-Québec’s President and CEO Claudine Bouchard at the event on Monday. Hydro-Québec also issued a press release inviting reporters to a closed-door briefing on Quebec’s energy security announcement, to be held on Monday at 11 a.m., with Hydro-Québec’s executive vice-president of energy and regulatory strategy Dave Rhéaume.
Furthermore, Natural Resources Canada announced a media technical briefing in Ottawa at 10:30 a.m. Wakeham’s office provided limited details, mentioning that the announcement is set for 1:45 p.m. in St. John’s. The Prime Minister’s office later confirmed that Carney will also be in attendance.
Details from reliable sources indicate that the new agreement guarantees transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, allowing Newfoundland and Labrador to sell up to that amount to external markets. The provinces are expected to receive significantly more electricity under this deal compared to the previous memorandum of understanding, with Quebec potentially receiving around 10,000 megawatts and Newfoundland and Labrador receiving a minimum of 2,350 megawatts, possibly increasing to 3,000.
To enhance electricity production, the agreement includes plans to develop a more powerful hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and increase the generating capacity of the turbines at the existing Churchill Falls plant. Additionally, the agreement incorporates wind power, a component not present in the 2024 MOU signed by former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and former Quebec Premier François Legault.