Reports out of Quebec indicate that Quebec Premier Christine Frechette is eager to reach a new MOU with this province by the end of July.

Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott told reporters last week that negotiations to reach a new MOU with Quebec on hydro expansion were set to begin “really soon.”

The original MOU was reached last year, but the entire process was put on hold not long after the new PC government took power, as a review of the previous document was carried out.

Joël-Denis Bellavance of La Presse told the Tim Powers Show on VOCM that the Council of the Federation is meeting in PEI next month, and he expects a new MOU to be reached not long after that.

“My expectation is that the premier of Quebec will make sure that negotiations are in full swing before then, and the possibility exists that a deal could be concluded at least in the days after that Summerside Council of the Federation meeting.”