Premier Tony Wakeham believes his Churchill Falls agreement can sell itself to the new Quebec premier. Photo by Diane Crocker/THE TELEGRAMArticle contentIn the moments after the Parti Québécois’ (PQ) minority government was declared on Oct. 5, the focus in Newfoundland and Labrador shifted to the future of the Churchill Falls and Gull Island deal.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe 2026 agreement between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec to develop Churchill Falls and Gull Island was negotiated with former premier Christine Fréchette.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentNow, Quebec Premier-elect Paul St. Pierre-Plamondon sits in her seat, and things could be different.Article contentNewfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham said his team has reached out to St. Pierre-Plamondon once his minority PQ government was declared and wished him well.Article contentOnce the dust settles, the new premier will need to be brought up to speed on the agreement’s details as things move forward.Article contentWakeham believes once that happens, St. Pierre-Plamondon will see that the deal as it’s laid out now is a good one for both provinces.Article content“When the new premier gets an opportunity to review the deal, I think they’ll come to the same conclusion as the previous premier that this is a good deal for Quebec and a good deal for Newfoundland (and Labrador),” he told the media in Corner Brook on Oct. 6.Article content Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette take part in a signing ceremony following an announcement for a new Churchill Falls deal on Aug. 17 in St. John’s, N.L. Photo by Keith Gosse /The TelegramArticle contentCould the history of tensions between NL, Quebec interfere?Article contentOf course, the history between Quebec and NL on hydroelectric deals is tenuous at best.Article contentIt all started with a 1902 dispute over lumber rights, continued with a 1927 decision by Britain’s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council that aligned Labrador with Newfoundland, and culminated with the infamous original 1969 Churchill Falls deal.Article contentArticle contentIn June, the PQ created a bit of a stir when then-energy critic Pascal Paradis said any renegotiation of the Churchill Falls agreement would include a look at the Labrador-Quebec border.Article contentArticle contentFor what it’s worth, Paradis lost his riding to Liberal Julie White.Article content“I am not even going to entertain it. There is a full stop,” said Wakeham.Article content“That’s been dealt with in 1927. Not interested in it at all.”Article contentWhy the Liberals think NL should go back to the tableArticle contentWith a new premier gaining power in Quebec, NL’s Liberal party sees it as a chance for Wakeham and his government to get a better deal for the province.
Agreement will sell itself: NL premier confident Churchill Falls agreement will go forward as Quebec changes leaders
