Churchill Falls deal is 'full steam ahead' says N.L. Hydro as Michael Sabia departs Hydro-Quebec

Elizabeth Whitten · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 12, 2025 9:38 AM EDT | Last Updated: June 12

With the caput of Hydro-Quebec leaving to go the adjacent caput of Canada's nationalist service, his counterpart successful Newfoundland and Labrador says she isn't disquieted astir the aboriginal of the Churchill Falls woody they hammered retired together.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney named Hydro-Quebec CEO Michael Sabia — a erstwhile lawman concern curate and businessman — arsenic the adjacent clerk of the Privy Council.

Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro CEO Jennifer Williams said his departure won't impact plans to develop more hydroelectric capableness connected the Churchill River — including the Gull Island project, which was archetypal announced successful December.

"With respect to our corporate enactment and continued advancement connected the MOU, I privation to guarantee Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that it is concern arsenic usual," Williams said successful a statement.

The caller Churchill Falls statement is expected to beryllium finalized by 2026.

Williams said teams person been moving connected the definitive agreements since December.

"We are readying engineering and geotechnical studies this summertime to pass enactment starting adjacent year. This is not the clip to pause. We've fixed much than our just stock for 50 years," she said.

"Since Day 1, I've said that this woody makes consciousness from 1 inferior to another, and our teams proceed afloat steam ahead."

Williams says she worked intimately with Sabia on the Churchill Falls negotiations over the past 2 years, and portion determination were tense moments, she says Sabia understood the issues with the 1969 declaration — which has agelong prompted resentment successful N.L. — and that a caller statement had to beryllium different.

Sabia was successful St. John's past week with Williams to be the yearly Energy N.L. conference, wherever helium spoke of the value of a just woody betwixt Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec, and the project's accrued value fixed rising governmental tensions with the United States.

"I convey him for his committedness and dedication, for being open-minded to a caller moving narration betwixt our utilities and provinces, and to keeping our absorption connected what truly mattered — the benefits to america some by moving together," said Williams.

She besides says helium is good suited to his caller relation arsenic clerk of the Privy Council and caput to the cabinet.

Sabia volition officially instrumentality implicit arsenic clerk connected July 7, a PMO connection said.

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