Wakeham Seeks Negotiations as Quebec Deal Nears Thursday Expiry — Vocm News
vocm news: Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham is using a review of the tentative Quebec hydro deal to guide negotiations as the draft agreement is set to expire Thursday. The proposal was announced in 2024 by the province’s former Liberal government and would affect electricity rates from Labrador and Churchill River hydro capacity.
Wakeham’s Review
A spokesperson for Wakeham said he received a report from the panel he mandated to carry out the review. Wakeham told reporters he’ll use the review to guide negotiations toward the best possible deal for Newfoundland and Labrador.
The draft agreement was between hydroelectric utilities in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. It proposed raising the rates Hydro-Québec pays for electricity from Labrador and expanding the hydroelectric capacity of the Churchill River.
Hydro-Québec Talks
Hydro-Québec said there’s no reason signatories can’t continue discussions. That leaves the two sides with a short window before the draft expires on Thursday, while Wakeham keeps the review in play as his government’s negotiating position.
For Newfoundland and Labrador, the practical issue is whether the province can convert the review into leverage before the deadline, or keep the talks moving after the draft lapses. Hydro-Québec’s position leaves the door open, and Wakeham has already said the review will shape what comes next.
