There's no energy crisis, says Fitzgibbon, contrary to what Skeete says
There is no energy crisis in Quebec, according to Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, even though one of his colleagues argues otherwise.
Last week, Economy Minister Christopher Skeete spoke of an energy crisis in Quebec during a session in the National Assembly.
On Friday, the Liberal opposition accused the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government of lacking "clarity and vision" on future electricity needs, and Skeete replied that the Liberals, "also don't have an answer as to how we're going to solve Quebec's energy crisis."
"Energy crisis? No," Fitzgibbon clarified in a press scrum Wednesday morning before heading into question period.
"I think Quebec has the energy it needs," he said.
The minister added that the future needs of industries that have been identified exceed Hydro-Québec's current production capacity. However, he wanted to be reassuring for the future. "But we can manage that," he added.
The debate on Quebec's energy future has been going on since the election campaign, and it took a new turn with the premature departure in January of Hydro-Quebec president and CEO Sophie Brochu, followed by the departure of other executives of the Crown corporation. The opposition then spoke of a "crisis" at Hydro-Québec.
While Premier François Legault has spoken at length about Hydro-Québec and future energy needs, including at the end of his party's pre-session caucus in January, he has never used the term "crisis" to describe the current situation.
He has consistently referred to the need to build new dams to provide the electricity needed to decarbonize Quebec's economy, namely to reach zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a goal to be reached by 2050 in accordance with international commitments.
Legault ventured to estimate that four or five more dams would be needed to provide electricity, without saying where they would be erected, while Hydro-Quebec is still updating its list of rivers that have potential to be harnessed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 15, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.