In terms of energy, François Legault is making his transition live in front of the cameras. Each week that passes, his speech adjusts. And it’s for the best.
In the election campaign, the head of the CAQ already saw his statue of a great builder. He promised to build hydroelectric plants in Quebec and attract businesses with our electricity at a discount, even if there was a shortage.
His vision contrasted with that of the outgoing CEO of Hydro-Québec, Sophie Brochu. Last year, it issued a warning: if electricity fails, the discounts in their current form are no longer justified.
Mr. Legault now speaks as Prime Minister and his speech no longer resembles electoral marketing.
His initial diagnosis is still based on the government corporation’s strategic plan: by 2050, Quebec will need about 100 terawatt hours. This is equivalent to inflating production capacity by 50%.
On Thursday, he clarified how he would go about it. Its priorities: build wind power, improve energy efficiency and renovate existing dams to avoid losses.
The construction of power plants? It would come later, if it ever happens. Which sounds a lot like M’s visionme Leaflet.
Last week, Mr. Legault also changed his tone with companies. New energy projects cost more, and part of that bill has to be passed on to companies. The rate will also be modulated according to their economic benefits and the reduction of their greenhouse gas emissions.
The announcement came without warning during a press briefing.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, indicated that among the 23,000 megawatts in industrial projects on his table, we will retain a maximum of 10,000. investors would be refused, but no order of magnitude had been given before.
Another recent surprise: last week, in response to a question, Mr. Fitzgibbon announced at the very end of an impromptu press that his government would finally organize a consultation on the use of energy for future industrial projects.
She will not be itinerant, as the Liberals wanted. And it will not take place in the National Assembly, as demanded by those in solidarity.
The exact form of the consultation is not yet known. Given the importance of the subject, the least you can do is open it to the public.
However, there will be an inevitable limit to transparency. Because uncertainty will hang over the exercise: the renegotiation with Newfoundland and Labrador of the Churchill Falls contract, which will expire in 2041.
For decades, Saint John’s has been going to court to break this old deal. Resentment remains strong. In order not to negotiate on his knees, Mr. Legault wants to have a plan B. This is also why he still mentions the construction of a hydroelectric power station.
The Prime Minister admits that the construction of a project at Gull Island, on the Churchill River in Labrador, would be more advantageous. The potential is indeed greater. But it is far from done. In addition to agreeing with Newfoundland and Labrador, the agreement of the Innu communities would be needed.
Thursday evening, Mr. Legault precisely met Sophie Brochu to prepare the negotiation with Newfoundland and Labrador. It will obviously be confidential and it will not be completed before the end of the energy consultation.
But for the rest, the exercise comes just in time.
In the coming weeks, the caquists should adopt their bill which will cap residential rate increases at 3% and which will make it possible to refuse industrial projects of less than 50 megawatts. According to what criteria should the projects be evaluated?
It is too early to say that the caquists want to tighten the screw with the companies. It will be necessary to read the fine print of the bill expected next fall, which will also aim to accelerate wind projects.
The bill is not yet written. Hence the importance of listening to the specialists during the consultation on the tariffs, the economic benefits that remain after the subsidies and other tax benefits. Without forgetting energy efficiency and sobriety, for which Mr. Fitzgibbon talks more about objectives than the means to achieve them.
In the eyes of the CAQists, Quebec no longer attracts major industrial projects and electricity is our best selling point. Everything will depend on the price of the criteria for evaluating applications.
Even if many questions remain, the vision is gradually becoming clearer. The construction of hydroelectric plants in Quebec is no longer a priority, companies will have to pay more and projects with economic and environmental benefits will be given priority.
It took a slow media stripping to learn it, perhaps because Mr. Legault adjusted to the criticisms that followed the departure of Mr.me Leaflet. But that doesn’t change the bottom line: the new version is much better.