Now that the Churchill Falls agreement has been passed in the House of Assembly, work begins on finalizing it.
Key to getting that process completed is the outcome of the Quebec election and the will of the next Quebec government to get it done.
Joël-Denis Bellavance of La Presse says the outcome of last night’s vote in the House of Assembly came as a great relief in Quebec.
Bellavance says it’s his belief that regardless of the outcome of next month’s election, the deal is likely to go unopposed.
Listen to “JD Bellevance of La Presse” on Spreaker.
“I think the vote in Newfoundland and Labrador is part one, and I think the election will be part two, but I don’t think that any government that will take power…will try to change the deal that was signed by (Premier) Christine Fréchette this summer.”
The aim is to have the deal finalized by the end of the year, and Opposition Leader John Hogan says he’s discouraged by the suggestion that the final agreements won’t be brought before the House of Assembly for further scrutiny.
NL Liberal Leader John Hogan (VOCM News)
“That’s certainly discouraging” says Hogan, “because really now Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will have no insight or further input, or approval mechanism about if this actually finally happens.”
