It’s full steam ahead for the new Churchill Falls deal, with the CEOs of NL Hydro and Hydro-Quebec dismissing talk of pausing the massive energy project.

“If this deal was important when it was announced last December, and it was, today it’s even more important,” said Hydro-Quebec’s Michael Sabia speaking yesterday at the Energy NL conference in St. John’s.

Much has changed since December, from Trump’s tariffs to Carney’s nation-building projects, creating uncertainty and calls to pump the brakes by those gun-shy of another lopsided deal.

The PM reportedly agreed that the Churchill Falls project is of national interest, which could see it fast-tracked with potential funding for transmission lines beyond tax credits.

But neither province appears interested in waiting to see what comes of that, insisting it’s a good project as is, and time is of the essence.

NL Hydro’s Jennifer Williams says they don’t have to wait, and can’t afford to.

“If there is something nationally that helps grease the wheels, that we all benefit from, we are very much open to those conversations, and we don’t need to pause to do that.”