Latest news with #ChurchillFalls
CBC
10-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
Innu Nation, Hydro-Quebec reach Churchill Falls agreement
The Innu Nation has reached a multi-million dollar agreement in principle with Hydro-Quebec — one the Indigenous group describes as "major step" toward an out-of-court settlement of their lawsuit against the public utility. "Innu negotiators were able to reach a fair agreement to address the damage this project has done," said Grand Chief Simon Pokue in a press release. The Innu Nation sued Hydro-Quebec and the Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation over ecological and cultural damage from the Churchill Falls project. The New Dawn Agreement, signed in 2011, awarded the Innu compensation for Churchill Falls, and — among other things — paved the way for the Muskrat Falls development. But it didn't include Hydro-Québec, because they weren't at the table. This new agreement in principle will see Hydro-Quebec pay $87 million to the Innu of Labrador — members of Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation and Mushuau Innu First Nation — in the form of annual payments to a reconciliation fund over 16 years. In addition to those payments, the agreement also says for as long as Churchill Falls produces power, three per cent of the dividends which Hydro-Québec receives from the Churchill Falls Corporation will go to the Innu of Labrador. "It's one of those moments in history where it's a watershed moment," said Peter Penashue, one of the negotiators of the agreement. "It's a very important part of history for the Innu people." "The project proceeded in 1970s and we did not have any consideration, no compensation, no revenue stream, nothing from the project," he said. In order to finalize the agreement in principle, the Innu Nation will present it to people in Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, who will vote sometime between September and October. Penashue said they'll release all terms of the agreement after consultation with the communities is complete. Gull Island In addition to acknowledging and addressing the extensive damage the Churchill Falls project has done to the Innu way of life, connection with the land, and culture, this new agreement will also serve as a guideline for future projects — including Gull Island, the much-hyped potentially next hydroelectric megaproject on the Churchill River. The Innu Nation press release called it a "milestone agreement" which "confirms Innu Nation and Hydro-Quebec's intention to forge a long-term relationship based on openness and mutual respect." "We've always made it known that Gull Island wasn't going to proceed, or big projects, unless … the past wrongs were dealt with," said Penashue. "It's going to be important what the people decide themselves," Penashue said. "It's in the community's hands at this point."
Globe and Mail
20-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Hydro dynamics
Opinion How Quebec and Newfoundland overcame a century of hurt to reach a new deal on Churchill Falls Konrad Yakabuski The Globe and Mail Quebec Premier Francois Legault and former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Andrew Furey shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding between Hydro-Québec and NL Hydro in St. John's on Dec. 12, 2024. Paul Daly/The Canadian Press to view this content.
CBC
18-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
A 'sigh of relief' as conditions for battling Churchill Falls fire improves, says minister
A fire east of Churchill Falls continues to burn Friday morning, but the provincial government says weather is improving and should help the effort to fight it. As of Friday afternoon, the Newfoundland and Labrador active wildfire dashboard shows the fire located near Churchill Falls is estimated to be roughly 170 hectares — the same size recorded on Thursday. The latest dashboard update indicates the fire is "being held" as the response continues. Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Minister Lisa Dempster said firefighting crews will get some help from the weather. "We have good news this morning on the fire. I know that residents in the area, and our crews that are on the ground and in other resources, are breathing a sigh of relief," she told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning. Her morning report on the fire said the area received overnight precipitation and it's a clear morning. She said the forecast for the next few days is favourable with low temperatures and light wind. "Everything that we need to try to get, you know, get all of this under control," said Dempster. 'Things are really dry' Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor George Andrews said he saw the flames near Churchill Falls and saw how quickly it could spread. He said if the wind had blown the other way, it would have been a more serious situation for the town. "The flames at times were almost as high as the steel transmission line poles that are there," he said. "It was very serious and kind of scary because it brought back what had happened last summer and what has happened across Labrador over many years." He said his community is being proactive about bringing in mitigation measures, such as implementing a fire ban. WATCH | Terry Roberts reports live from Churchill Falls: Rain bringing relief to Churchill Falls firefighting efforts 19 days ago Duration 3:06 A wildfire has been burning near Churchill Falls since Wednesday, but favourable weather conditions and the firefighting effort have led to positive developments. The CBC's Terry Roberts shared an update on Friday morning. "Things are really dry," he said. He added there wasn't a lot of snow in the region during the winter and not a lot of moisture in the woods, and people are still "hyper-sensitive" over last summer's wildfires. "We prepare as best we can," said Andrews. Andrews said the town is as ready as it can be for an emergency situation and he hopes the weather will co-operate when it comes to putting out the fires. While he doesn't want people to be alarmed, they've been told to prepare go-bags with their essential items, and to be ready to leave with their vehicles gassed. People can get information on the town's website and Facebook page, he said. Air quality The provincial fire rating hazard map ranks many parts of the province as at moderate to high risk for wildfires. The Churchill Falls area remains at a very high risk, while the Labrador City region is in the yellow, meaning high risk. The region just east of Happy Valley-Goose Bay sits at extreme. Environment Canada has special air quality statement in effect for the Churchill Falls vicinity. "Smoke conditions may vary locally as wind and fire behaviour changes," it states. A period of wet weather is expected to start on Saturday and continue for several days, which could help fire fighting efforts. Second fire burning A second fire also ignited in western Labrador on Thursday in the area of Faden Siding by the Menihek Lakes, approximately 150 kilometres north of Labrador City. As of Friday morning, the provincial wildfire map calculates its area at an estimated 1,875 hectares. Craig Coady, the forestry department's wildfire program director, said they are currently monitoring the fire. "The good thing about the location of that fire, at the moment right now, is that there aren't any values at risk," Coady told CBC News on Thursday evening. "So there isn't any significant infrastructure — homes, cabins, you know, those types of things — in that area. So right now we're not too concerned with that fire." There is a fire burning on Newfoundland's west coast but it is under control. Need resources Wabush Mayor Ron Barron said he's worried about a lack of fire fighting resources in the region, something he's seen dwindle over the years. "I have to stress as a community leader, in the past we've had resources here on the ground. You know, just the local forestry department had, I think, five full-time people," he told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning on Thursday. He said it's now down to two people in the area. Barron said a water bomber was stationed at the Wabush airport for 30 years, which is no longer the case. Last year Wabush was on stand-by when Labrador City was evacuated due to wildfires. "Fires are unpredictable. We've seen that here in 2013. We've seen it again here in 2024," said Barron. "The only thing that puts fires out is boots on the ground and resources in the air to help combat those fires. You can have all the signs you want but Mother Nature don't comply with that, sometimes, and she does her own thing." Since Thursday the town has been under a boil water advisory.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Another fire is burning out of control near Churchill Falls, but no impact to community, says N.L. Hydro
A wildfire continues to burn near Churchill Falls, Labrador as the provincial government warns the surrounding area is at a high risk. According to the provincial wildfire dashboard, the fire broke out on Monday and has burned approximately one hectare. The province's fire hazard rating map, which was last updated on Monday, indicates the area around the hydroelectric plant in the community has a high and very high fire hazard rating. "As of this morning, there are no impacts on the community or operations," wrote company spokesperson Jill Pitcher in an email to CBC News. CBC News has asked the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture for an update on Tuesday's firefighting efforts. On Monday, the department said the fire started near the ski hill area of the community and there was no immediate risk to health or safety. The statement also said Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro was fighting the fire from the air with helicopters, while another helicopter, water bomber and three firefighters were dispatched from Happy-Valley Goose Bay to assist. Last month, emergency crews responded to an out of control wildfire near the community that burned an estimated 170 hectares. These fires come approximately a year after a large wildfire forced thousands of people to flee the community, including power plant workers. At the time, it raised concerns about the community's vital hydroelectric power plant. Other areas of Labrador also have high fire hazard ratings, and the towns of Labrador City and Wabush have issued fire bans due to concerns over high winds. On the island, multiple fire bans are in place across the Avalon Peninsula, including St. John's, Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South and Portugal Cove-St Philip's. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CBC
07-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
$33B in construction spending for Labrador megaprojects is welcome news for industry
While shovels aren't yet in the ground and no labour contracts are signed, billions of dollars in planned construction spending for a new megaproject has many optimistic about the positive impact the new Churchill Falls deal will have on Newfoundland and Labrador. A memorandum of understanding for Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant and other projects was announced in December and is set to be finalized in April 2026. It will require approximately $33 billion in construction contracts between Churchill Falls and Gull Island. "Thirty-three billion [dollars'] worth of construction is significant, no question," Trades N.L. executive director Bob Fiander told reporters while attending Energy N.L.'s annual conference in downtown St. John's earlier this week. Stéphane Jean, a senior director with Hydro-Quebec, says construction on Gull Island's temporary infrastructure, like the work camps and roads, will begin next year, while construction at the Churchill Falls extension will begin in 2029. Fiander says his members need this work. "We're about 70 per cent unemployed," he said. "We're looking forward to getting shovels in the ground and that's important for us because, you know, when our members are not working, they're not getting paid. They're looking elsewhere." While there haven't been any signed labour agreements, he says he's looking forward to what lies ahead. Fiander says he also welcomes the news from Prime Minister Mark Carney on fast-tracking projects deemed "nation-building." "Fortunately for Newfoundland and Labrador, we have a number of projects that could be nation-building projects," said Fiander. 'Optimistic about the future' Energy N.L. CEO Charlene Johnson says the investment will mean a lot of work for her members through construction, environmental work and building transmission lines. "That's very exciting for our members because really we're at a little bit of a lull in the industry now and I'm very optimistic about the future," she said. Johnson added Bay du Nord won't have a decision on its future for some time, making the Churchill Falls deal the next big project in the province. She says Energy N.L. members will have to be ready soon for work on the camp, roads and bridges needed in Labrador. "They said they want to move quickly because all of this has to happen in very short order if they're going to have this power in place within 10 years," she said. Brad Forsey, director of business development for the Cahill Group and vice-chair of Energy N.L. board of directors, says there's going to be a lot of long-term construction work ahead of the sector. "It's a great opportunity for us to be involved from the beginning all the way to the end. We've been involved in similar type projects in this industry and adjacent industries. And we look forward to the opportunities that we have here in front of us," he said. Forsey agreed with Johnson that these projects are important. "There is a bit of a lull right now, but we need to make sure that we're ready and we need to communicate and show to them that we're ready."
