Leading up to the announcement of a new Churchill Falls agreement, questions swirled about what would happen if Quebec elects new leadership in the fall. But according to one political expert, Ottawa’s influence will make the deal much harder to break.
“This is a massive, massive investment in renewable energy,” said Dalhousie University political science professor Lori Turnbull.
“The fact that the federal government is at the table as investors, as players, not just as brokers, but as people who have put their own money on the table…means that this isn't just between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. ”
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N.L., Quebec announce new Churchill Falls agreement worth billions — with help from Ottawa
Currently, the Parti Québécois (PQ) is leading in opinion polls. The party also has previously spoken out against the Churchill Falls agreement, but now that the agreement is out, it appears the tables might have turned.
At Monday’s announcement, reporters questioned Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette on whether this agreement will last if the PQ wins the election, and she said she knows the party is interested in “tearing up” the agreement.
But, PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon responded on X that Frechette’s comment was "simply a falsehood" and accused her of rushing a deal for electoral reasons.
Plamadon went on to say that if the agreement is beneficial for Quebec, the PQ would be interested in maintaining it.
New Churchill Falls deal not worth breaking, say experts
Turnbull said even if the PQ wanted to tear up the agreement, the federal government would likely prevent that from happening.
“The idea that somehow this is really in political jeopardy, I don't believe that. And I don't think that threat should be overstated. It would be different if the feds didn't care, but clearly they do,” she said.
La Presse journalist Joël-Denis Bellavance, who covers Churchill Falls, said many experts agree that the agreement is in the best interest of Quebec.
“This is a win-win deal for everyone, including Quebec. It's impossible to get a better deal than this one that is on the table,” he said.
He also said there is an awareness in Quebec that this is a “must-sign deal.”
