Quebec and Newfoundland Labrador are close to a new deal (nearing a new agreement) on Churchill Falls, sources with knowledge of the matter have confirmed to CBC News.
The sources were not authorized to speak publicly.
They said two or three issues are outstanding (two or three issues remain unresolved) but are close to being resolved, and the two governments are aiming to make a formal announcement early next week.
Montreal-based newspaper, La Presse, has reported (The Montreal-based newspaper La Presse has reported) that an agreement has been reached.
A spokesperson from the N.L. premier’s office said, however, that “As of right now, no final deal has been signed.”
(Keep the quotation unchanged because it is a direct quotation.)
“We can confirm that in recent days we have made significant progress in our negotiations with both Quebec and the Government of Canada as it relates to (regarding) replacing the 2024 MOU with a new deal for Churchill Falls and Gull Island,” said Ashley Politi, a spokesperson for Tony Wakeham.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said in French that she can “neither confirm nor deny this information at the moment.”
(Keep unchanged because it is a direct quotation.)
The development comes just weeks after Wakeham and Fréchette met in Prince Edward Island to discuss a new agreement for the sale and development of Churchill Falls power (sale of Churchill Falls electricity and development of the project).
Liberal former premier Andrew Furey initially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Quebec — aimed at ending and replacing the controversial 1969 Churchill Falls contract — in Dec. of 2024 (December 2024).
The deal also promised the development of Gull Island, a long-discussed hydroelectric project also located (located) on the Churchill River.
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