House of Assembly to open Jan. 6 as MHAs prep for special Churchill Falls debate

Newfoundland and Labrador's legislature will open again in January, so that politicians can hash out the details of a sweeping tentative agreement with Quebec on hydro power. 

Government House leader John Hogan said in a brief statement Monday that he has asked the Speaker to open the legislature on Jan. 6 to deal with a memorandum of understanding. 

Hogan said he intends to "bring the MOU between N.L. Hydro and Hydro-Québec to the House." 

Premier Andrew Furey said during Thursday's announcement there would be a "special sitting" at the House of Assembly in January. 

"I think it's the rightful place to be debated," he said. "We want everyone to consider it." 

The MOU, if sanctioned by a 2026 target, would deliver more than $200 billion to Newfoundland and Labrador over five decades. 

The agreement would overwrite a contentious and much-loathed 65-year contract that will not expire otherwise until 2041.

The new agreement includes provisions that Newfoundland and Labrador has long sought, including significantly greater revenue from hydroelectric sales, recall rights, development of the Gull Island megaproject and — years down the road — an escalator clause to increase payments.

No need to rush: Wakeham

Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham said he wants an all-party committee struck to ensure a fair debate — and said there is no need to rush. 

"We need to make sure that at the end of the day, we get a deal — a fair deal — for Newfoundland and Labrador for the next 50 years," he said in an interview with CBC News.

"We have an MOU. We don't have a deal. What we have is an MOU which is going to set the tone for the next contract that will be signed. So let's make sure that whichever government is in power after the next election, that all of us have contributed to this MOU and made it the best it can be."

The Liberal government has undertaken an ambitious marketing campaign to tell the public about the deal, raising speculation that an early election might be called. Furey has refused to rule out an election ahead of one scheduled for October 2025 in fixed-date legislation. 

Wakeham said he has problems with how the government spending taxpayers dollars to promote the deal to the public — going on speaking engagements, launching a website called ourchapter.ca and buying advertising on local and social media.

"There's lots of questions about the MOU that will come up. It's one thing to go out and promote it, but it's another thing to provide the details and answer the questions."

People want to understand the details of the deal, said Wakeham, adding that's why the special session at the House is so important as well as having independent input and asking questions," he said. 

"We want this to be the best deal that we can get for the problems of Newfoundland and Labrador. It's too important [to] not to get it right."

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