Frustrated by previous megaprojects, Labrador is expecting much more from Churchill Falls
Hydro development deal could quadruple available electricity in N.L.
With a new Churchill Falls deal between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec in the works, leaders in the Big Land say they want to ensure the people they represent benefit, too.
Last week, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and Quebec Premier François Legault announced the terms of a memorandum of understanding at a news conference in St. John's to renegotiate the 1969 contract, boost energy production at the Churchill Falls plant and plans to develop Gull Island.
Jordan Brown, NPD MHA for Labrador West, says the region has an active mining sector that needs a steady supply of additional power in order to grow.
"They've been making a lot of big moves," Brown told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning. "They need electricity."
The MOU — which is expected to be formalized by 2026 — proposes that N.L. will quadruple its access to power by going up to 1,990 megawatts. That growth is something Brown says he sees as a positive.
"We do need a significant amount of power in Labrador West and that was the thing I was looking for in this agreement, is to make sure that Labrador West's energy needs are secured," he said.
There are several mining operations active in the area. Brown says the province is also interested in developing the Julienne Lake iron ore deposit, which will increase the region's energy needs.
Meanwhile, there are communities in Labrador that rely on diesel for power, and the residents drive by power lines that they don't get access to, said Brown.
"All this power's leaving Labrador, but Labradorians are not the masters of their own destiny when it comes to this. We are underserved," he said, adding Labrador is the province's economic powerhouse and the people in the region, including Indigenous people, need to be the beneficiaries of the projects.
Big energy needs
Peter Woodward, president of the Woodward Group of Companies in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, says residents are eager to see a deal get made.
"They're shaking their heads and pinching themselves," he said.
He said Newfoundalnd and Labrador will have an advantage on the world market if it can sell cheap and sustainable power. It will also have a substantial positive impact within Labrador, he said.
"There's a lot of fuel being burned in Labrador and we supply some of it. But, you know, if you want a long-term, stable supply of energy, sustainable hydroelectricity is the way to go," said Woodward.
He says Rio Tinto is looking for additional power in Labrador West, where its joint venture with the Iron Ore Company of Canada operates its mine. He also pointed to the Strange Lake rare Earth mining project that's looking for power along the Labrador coast.
"When I look at this 2,000 megawatts that may be available to us when everything is developed, that's all a source of power that is going to make these mines and these developments sustainable for… generations to come," said Woodward.
Protecting the land
But Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe says he doesn't know what his government will get from the deal, but says he has a commitment from Furey that Nunatsiavut's concerns about future hydro developments will be addressed.
"Having experience with the Muskrat Falls [project], we have significant concerns about the downstream impacts of any future hydro projects under Churchill River and the potential for increased methylmercury contamination remains a critical issue," Lampe said.
He said that contamination would have an impact on traditional food sources, physical health, as well as the environmental integrity of their land and water.
"Future hydro developers threaten to disrupt the delicate balance of our ecosystems," said Lampe.
At the same time, Lampe said, they also need electricity to develop communities and future plans.
"All of our communities rely on diesel generation. We need a cleaner and more reliable source of energy and we need increased energy capacity in order to enable our communities to grow," he said.
Before any work is sanctioned, Lampe said, there must be meaningful consultation with the Nunatsiavut government.
"While we recognize the potential economic benefits of these projects, they must not come at the expense of our environment, health and cultural heritage and most certainly the Labrador Inuit," he said.
"We remain committed to protecting our lands and waters for future generations and we will continue to advocate for the well-being of our communities."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from On the Go and Labrador Morning
