Today, Substack. Tomorrow, La Presse...

The Reading List for 13 Jan 23

What will happen after 2041 with Churchill Falls?

If you are not a regular La Presse reader, flip over to the website Monday and check out my opinion piece there on Churchill Falls and the talks soon to be underway between Hydro-Quebec and NALCOR-Hydro about what happens once the 1969 power contract expires in 2041.

It’s not just the 1969 power contract, by the way. *All* the contracts expire on 31 August 29041, including ones that supply power to Labrador. It’s a way bigger deal than most people think.

There’s been plenty of chatter over the past month in La Presse and most recently the Globe and Mail but it’s all speculation. There’s nothing concrete, except from Quebec where there is an interest in expanding the domestic power supply and developing battery plants and rare-earth mines.

In Newfoundland and Labrador?

Crickets.

Not unusual, given there are no crickets in Newfoundland, at least.

Not unusual, since there’s been no word on what either of the committees working on the Churchill issue have been up to. According to La Presse - the local media aren’t looking at this - one of the advisory groups won;t be reporting until 2024 instead of the original target of 2023.

And not unusual given that no one speaks up publicly in this province about anything anymore except for a couple of online scribblers here and at Uncle Gnarley.

So, your humble e-scribbler will kick off some discussion in La Presse and see if any of it seeps back here. There’ll be more in this corner, including the English version of the La Presse piece for subscribers.

Stay tuned for more.

In the meantime, here are a few things about what is going on in the world to keep you informed, interested, and entertained.