Legault defends his Ontario power plan as ‘win-win’ for all

Construction union says Quebec workers should be main priority for premier

Allowing Ontario workers to help build dams in Quebec to increase hydro exports is a “winwin” for both provinces, says Premier François Legault. Despite an immediate backlash from Quebec’s powerful union movement, which fears job losses, Legault defended the idea that he floated during his meeting with Ontario Premier Doug Ford earlier this week. Arriving Wednesday for a meeting of the Quebec cabinet, Legault reminded reporters that Ontario is preparing to invest $20 billion in upgrading the aging Pickering, Darlington and Bruce CANDU nuclear generating power plants. But Quebec can offer the province a cheaper option in the form of its surplus power. The only obstacle in the past to this idea has been the jobs issue, and he believes it can be overcome. “There are two possibilities: There are no dams and no jobs (created) either in Quebec or Ontario, or there are new dams, we serve Ontario and there are jobs in Quebec and jobs in Ontario,” Legault said. “What do you prefer? Understand? So I think this would be, as they say in English, win-win if we got a deal with Ontario so that instead of renovating their nuclear plants, we build more dams in Quebec, partly with Quebec workers and in part with workers from Ontario.” Legault’s idea has caused waves in Quebec. In a statement, Éric Boisjoly, director general of the FTQ construction union, said they have questions on Legault’s comments and called on him to commit to hiring Quebec workers first because, despite the booming economy, not all are working. And many have spent most of their working lives on such projects and have the needed expertise. “In the election Mr. Legault campaigned as an economic nationalist,” said Boisjoly. “Mr. Legault is going to have to understand that Quebec workers should be his priority. He cannot sell electricity and Quebec jobs at the same time.” Another prominent union figure, Bernard “Rambo” Gauthier also jumped in, launching a tirade against the idea on social media, complaining Quebec’s workers were not consulted. Quebec’s Liberal opposition also waded in, criticizing Legault for outlining his policy in Ontario without telling Quebecers first. “François Legault talks about creating quality jobs, but the only quality jobs he plans to create with his project are for our neighbours in Ontario,” Liberal energy critic Saul Polo said in a statement. “It is troubling to learn the parameters of this project in this way when the premier has never spoken about it to the Quebec people.” “I guess they (Legault and Ford) didn’t just exchange hockey jerseys at their meeting, paying jobs for Quebecers were also traded,” added interim Parti Québécois leader Pascal Bérubé. “It’s a terrible idea. I think we are able to build our own dams, regardless of where they are. You have to wonder what was going through Mr. Legault’s head to make such a concession off the top.” The PQ MNA for the riding of Duplessis, Lorraine Richard, said she fears the reaction of workers on other Hydro-Québec sites in Quebec. “Mr. Legault is going to find things very difficult if work sites on the North Shore get blocked (by protesting workers),” she said. “I don’t think Mr. Legault, in his first mandate, wants to spark a war, especially after Apuiat (the wind farm project the government wants to cancel) with construction workers.” But Legault argues such a plan would allow Hydro-Québec to increase profits, create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions since hydro power replaces other polluting sources of energy such as coal and gas.