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Dream’s of Lower Churchill Power Fading Fast

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I’ve spent much of my life fighting for Newfoundland and Labrador’s place in Confederation. I’ve fought to ensure that we have a say and I’ve fought to ensure that we received the benefits of the God given “goodies” we’ve brought into this Dominion. I had hoped against hope that something would happen to ensure that our land would one day gain the respect it deserved and that the people here would somehow find a place in the tapestry of the Canadian experience. Now, after decades of faith, I have to admit that I have about reached the end of my tether.

Back in the sixties the country of Canada royally screwed Newfoundland (now re-named Newfoundland and Labrador) out of its chances for an economic windfall by refusing to pressure Quebec into allowing the transmission of power from the Upper Churchill river across the provincial border. As a result Newfoundland was forced to sell the power to Quebec at idiotic rates and today we see Quebec enjoying a billion dollars a year in revenues while Newfoundland makes barely enough to keep the power plant in operation. Not to worry though, the contract will only last another 35 years.

Now, at a time when the province of Newfoundland and Labrador is trying to put this slap in the face behind it and develop the Lower Churchill River, one of the last hydro mega projects left in North America, suddenly history is repeating itself. Apparently Quebec is planning once again to screw the little guy and nobody, not even Newfoundland and Labrador’s strongest advocate, renegade Premier Danny Williams, has stepped up to the plate to say, “hang on just a second”.

Bare with me a folks ‘cause it’s time for a history lesson.

In 1927, a full 22 years before Newfoundland was dragged kicking and screaming into Canada, the judicial committee of Her Majesty’s Privy Council (sound’s pretty official doesn’t it, and it is) clearly identified the border between Quebec and the Labrador portion of the province. This ruling was officially accepted by Canada when Newfoundland joined the dominion in 1949. So, one might ask, what’s the problem? Apparently Quebec never officially recognized this ruling and now, in the year of our Lord 2006 they’ve decided to take a stand on the issue and the spoils of the battle are nothing less than hydro electric energy and the potential value of the Lower Churchill River.

For decades Quebec has had issues with the border between the two provinces. Their official provincial maps, as well as their tourist maps, show a large chunk of Labrador as a part of their province. Most politicians in Newfoundland and Labrador have brushed this off over the years and this continues even to today. The problem now is that Quebec’s leadership has convinced itself that their maps are valid and that they have the right to develop hydro power without concern to the impacts in Labrador. Why? The answer is simple. Since, in the opinion of the Quebec government, the land belongs to them, they have the right to exploit it.

For decades the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador have fumed over their treatment on the Upper Churchill hydro development. Over that time many have come to the realization that they have no choice but to live with the current agreement. While the scars run deep, many had hung their hopes on the development of the lower part of the river, knowing full well that current free trade agreements would make it difficult, if not impossible, for Quebec to stand in the way.

After months of analysis and planning to determine the best course of action on development, after working directly with Quebec to determine if the hydro grid could handle the increased power flow, the pins have been pulled out. Quebec has boldly announced in their energy plan that they intend to develop a hydro project in the area known as the 5 rivers. The problem here is that the 5 rivers span the border of the two provinces and their head waters are none other than the Churchill River. Add to this the fact that this development would take up any free capacity on the Quebec hydro grid decrease the demand for the potential Newfoundland and Labrador power. Can you say screwed again?

Forget for a minute that Quebec appears to be determined to prevent Newfoundland and Labrador from benefiting from its resources a second time, there is another question to be answered. If Quebec develops a hydro project on the five rivers, the resulting reservoir would flood areas of Labrador, would it not? Well, according to the Quebec government, the answer is no. Why I ask myself? Simply becauseQuebec sees areas of Labrador as its own so if flooding were to occur, by that logic, how could they possibly damage the land of another province?

I would have thought that in this day and age the atrocities of the past could never happen again, boy, was I wrong. With Quebec, lusting after hydro revenues and Ontario screaming for a power source, the two mighty powers of Canada that drown out all others have, intentionally or not, found yet one more way to make Newfoundland and Labrador the fall guy.

As heart breaking as this all is for a home town boy like myself, it doesn’t surprise me. Do you know what bothers me the most? It’s the lack of reaction from our own provincial government. Since this issue hit the news wires, I can only assume the politicians on the inside knew before I did, there has been zero reaction from the provincial government.

Where are you “fighting Danny”? Where is your legendary vim and vigor now? Like local columnist and political pundit, Ray Guy noted in a recent article for the North East Avalon Times:

“The lights are blinking out all around the coast, Darrel an Darleen are packing the U-Haul for Fort McMurray, Nan and Pop depend on Jesus and the out harbor ambulance. We’re stuck in the middle with fish in the past and oil in the future… a future poorly understood. In times like these the trappings of democracy are often ditched. Folks are too frightened for frills. They willingly fling themselves at the feet and mercy of the strong man.”

Well, where are you Danny? You stared down Paul Martin, you kicked out the evil giant known a ExxonMobile and you have begun to slay our monster debt. All you have to do now is stand up to Quebec and protect our borders. Don’t expect Stephen Harper or the Canadian government to fight them. They didn’t do it in the past and they won’t do it now. For a man of your caliber it should be a walk in the park, so why are you so silent?

By Myles Higgins

@ September 21, 2006