Prime Minister pushes idea of ​​hydro loop connecting Quebec, Atlantic region

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he remains confident his government will eventually support a connected loop of Atlantic and Quebec electricity, allowing the Maritimes to end its dependence on coal.

But the pledge was quickly criticized by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who said Ottawa didn’t put enough money into the idea to make it work.

Speaking to delegates at the Atlantic Economic Forum, Trudeau pointed to Volkswagen’s decision to build an electric vehicle battery plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, saying the company was attracted by the availability of low-carbon electricity .

“We want investments like this to come to Atlantic Canada as well. That’s what our commitment to building the Atlantic Loop is all about,” Trudeau told several hundred people gathered to discuss economic development at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS.

Trudeau spoke after an introduction by former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who stressed that national leaders must be able to see the long-term effects of their policies.

Before the speech, the former leader of the Progressive Conservatives gave the prime minister a tour of Mulroney Hall on campus, showing him a replica of his central office.

During their meeting, Trudeau recalled how Mulroney had created the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in the 1980s in an effort to boost the region’s struggling economy.

Trudeau said creating a loop of hydropower that would bring electricity from Quebec and Labrador to Nova Scotia, mainland Newfoundland and New Brunswick would be a similar investment in the region’s economic prosperity.

“Imagine, the East Coast should and could be a clean energy powerhouse and this federal government will be there to help make that happen,” Trudeau said.

“Not only is (the Atlantic Loop) the fastest and most cost-efficient way to get rid of coal, it will also ensure that the Atlantic region has enough power to meet the growing demand for electricity.”

However, after meeting with Trudeau and hearing the speech, Houston responded that the federal Liberal government’s offers are not enough.

“I don’t know where it will end up, but we will have a discussion and continue to exchange information … but at the moment what the federal government is talking about, it’s just not an economically viable project for Nova Scotians,” the prime minister said.

Documents released last week to The Canadian Press and CBC News indicated that Ottawa has ambitious goals to achieve an Atlantic Loop agreement in principle this summer and complete the project by 2030.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said Ottawa has also offered to invest $4.5 billion to advance the project.

The documents show that the power project includes two interprovincial power lines connecting power from Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

The line between Quebec and New Brunswick is estimated to cost $6.1 billion, while the other line would cost $700 million, according to the notes, which are dated last month.

The Houston office has said the federal proposal is a long-term loan, and would involve Nova Scotia’s electricity payers paying for Quebec infrastructure.

“Nova Scotia taxpayers paying for new infrastructure to be built … in another part of the country is just not something I’m interested in,” the prime minister told reporters on Monday.

The Prime Minister also noted during his speech that climate change is becoming a greater concern for the region’s economy, pointing to recent bushfires and the damage caused by Hurricane Fiona last autumn.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau visited a fire station in Hammond Plains, just a few hundred yards from where a wildfire raged a few weeks ago, destroying 151 homes.

A “Nova Scotia Strong” flag waved along the road.

Trudeau met dozens of volunteer and full-time firefighters, as well as fire department management and union representatives, posing for photographs.

He then addressed the group and thanked them for their commitment to their community.

“I also thank you for all the things we don’t know, the things you don’t tell your partners or families about,” Trudeau added.

“I know you all get into really scary situations on a regular basis, and Canadians rely on you a lot for everything you do.”