Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette are convening in St. John’s on Monday for a significant announcement related to energy security and economic growth. Discussions surrounding a potential new agreement concerning Churchill Falls energy have intensified recently, with reports confirming Fréchette’s visit to Newfoundland to finalize the deal.
Following a news release from Wakeham’s office, it was revealed 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 issued a statement inviting reporters to a closed briefing the following day, focusing on an announcement related to Quebec’s energy security.
The specific details of the announcement remain scarce, but it is scheduled to take place at 1:45 p.m. NT in St. John’s. Sources familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity, have disclosed key aspects of the new agreement, including a guaranteed transmission access of 985 megawatts through Quebec, enabling Newfoundland and Labrador to export electricity up to this capacity to external markets.
Moreover, the agreement outlines a substantial increase in electricity allocations for both provinces compared to the previous memorandum of understanding. Quebec is expected to receive approximately 10,000 megawatts, while Newfoundland and Labrador could potentially gain between 2,350 to 3,000 megawatts. This expansion in electricity production will involve the development of a more potent hydroelectric facility at Gull Island and the enhancement of turbine capacity at the existing Churchill Falls plant.
In a notable departure from the previous agreement signed in 2024, the new deal incorporates wind power into the energy mix. This strategic collaboration marks a significant step forward in energy cooperation between the two provinces.
