Premier Wakeham Outlines Spring 2027 Groundbreaking Target for Churchill Falls Expansion

ST. JOHN’S, NL — Premier Tony Wakeham addressed energy sector stakeholders and the House of Assembly Thursday night, detailing the operational timeline for the historic $70 billion Churchill Falls hydro renewal agreement reached between Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and the federal government.

Gull Island Engineering and Commercial Structure

Premier Wakeham confirmed that provincial crown corporation Hydro will begin preliminary road access and environmental baseline engineering for the 2,250-megawatt Gull Island hydro development in spring 2027, provided definitive commercial contracts are executed by December 31, 2026. The tri-party framework guarantees that Newfoundland and Labrador will receive market-rate equity revenues for Churchill Falls power exports while securing joint financing from the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) for clean transmission lines across Labrador and Quebec.

Wakeham affirmed that the agreement permanently rights historical economic imbalances, creating thousands of high-wage trade jobs in Labrador.

Opposition Demands Full Parliamentary Scrutiny

Opposition Liberal and NDP leaders called for an extended legislative debate, demanding that all financial risk-sharing terms and First Nations impact-benefit agreements be tabled in the House of Assembly for open committee scrutiny prior to final ratification.

Indigenous leadership in Labrador, including the Innu Nation, affirmed that free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and equity ownership are mandatory prerequisites for project construction.

Definitive Contract Drafting Phase

Legal and financial negotiating teams from St. John’s, Quebec City, and Ottawa will convene weekly drafting sessions through November 2026.