(Montreal) At a time when opposition parties in Quebec City are calling for a parliamentary commission to hear Hydro-Quebec President and CEO Sophie Brochu on the reasons for her departure, the concerned principal asserts her decision was unmotivated by a disagreement with the Legault government.
Posted 1:21pm Updated 3:03pm
Stephane Rolland The Canadian Press
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not in conflict with anyone,” Ms Brochu replied Wednesday at a press conference as part of the release of the state-owned company’s results. I am not in conflict with the government. »
Ms. Brochu announced in early January that she would be stepping down from her position effective April 11, before the end of her term. Before that announcement, rumors were circulating that Ms Brochu had strained relations with Minister for Economy, Innovation and Energy Pierre Fitzgibbon, which he denied.
After the announcement of Ms Brochu’s departure, the main opposition parties felt there was ‘eel under the rock’ and wanted to hear the leader on the reasons for her departure and any possible disagreements with the government.
“It’s not that,” says Ms. Brochu. It’s a personal movement, it’s an organizational movement. For the rest, it’s healthy that there’s someone better suited than me to manage the rest of what’s about to be built. »
She believes Hydro-Québec needs someone with a different profile to take the next step. To illustrate her point, she compared Hydro-Québec’s strategic plan to building a house. Like an architect, she sees her strength in designing the outlines of the strategic plan in collaboration with civil society actors. The next step would require someone whose forte would be operational execution, she said. “Don’t get me wrong, building the house is harder than drawing it. »
The outgoing President is pleased to have started a conversation about Quebec’s energy future in a context where the energy transition will require finding new sources of electricity. “I am leaving relaxed and satisfied with the public discussion that is currently taking place on the subject of energy. »
Ms. Brochu also mentioned that at the age of 60 she wanted to do something different. “I don’t want to stop working when I’m 60, I’ll keep working, I don’t know what to do. I’ll do something else, but it’s time for me to think about the rest of my own life. »