Quebec needs a “real societal debate” about energy. François Legault himself said so in his opening speech for the new Parliament session in November. And he’s 100% right.
Posted at 5:00 am
Therefore, the prime minister should agree with the Liberal Party, which on Monday called for a national commission that would undoubtedly be the ideal arena for an open and transparent debate on Quebec’s energy future.
Except that the surprise departure of Hydro-Québec President Sophie Brochu leaves the impression that the die has already been cast. The new superminister Pierre Fitzgibbon has his idea in mind: to attract companies with a big power surge. And nothing can stop it.
The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) will not be criticized for being a government of action. But in their haste the caquists often put the cart before the horse. We saw it at the third link, which isn’t based on any study. We saw it at the REM de l’Est where the CAQ was forced to retreat. We’re seeing it now in this project to build hydroelectric power stations, an idea that popped out of a wizard’s hat during the election campaign.
New dams? Perhaps. But why not improve existing systems? Or even more wind or sun whose costs have melted? Or more efforts to reduce building consumption?
The CAQ should take a step back by appointing a commission that asks all questions in a logical and calm manner.
Such a process can be carried out without any problems. As a testament to this, in 2013 the Quebec Energy Commission lasted only three or four months. Unfortunately, the exercise was a missed opportunity as the Parti Québécois (PQ), which launched the initiative, lost power immediately after the report was released.
Ten years later it wouldn’t be a luxury to repeat the exercise because a lot of water has flowed… under the levees.
Things are moving very quickly in the United States, where the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, promises $370 billion in investments to boost clean energy production, a windfall Quebec must capitalize on.
Quebec is also at a crucial moment. The days of swimming in excess electricity are over. With the energy transition, Quebec will need more than 100 additional TWh to reach carbon neutrality in 2050, a 50% increase in its capacity.
This is not insurmountable as the province managed to develop 100 TWh between 1965 and 1989 using less advanced technologies. But in the future, the supply costs will be three to four times higher than those of the historical power block.
In other words, electricity is no longer an open bar where you can pay anyone a spin. Many questions arise during sobriety.
For example, is it common for companies to subsidize private consumers with higher tariffs? Should household prices be increased while protecting the poorest to encourage them to reduce consumption?
To what extent are we willing to attract companies to Quebec with discounted electricity? The good old argument of job creation no longer applies because the number one enemy is no longer unemployment, but labor shortages. In this context, we must prioritize projects that really have a major impact on the prosperity and development of tomorrow’s Québec.
At the end of the exercise, we can come to the conclusion that the construction of hydroelectric power plants is necessary. But in view of the resulting social and ecological consequences, we cannot cut corners.
Quebec is at a pivotal moment. Instead of blindly moving left and right with measures, the country needs a roadmap to set the course for the energy transition. A national commission would be an excellent starting point.