Growing up in Newfoundland and Labrador, I have always been acutely aware of the immense natural resources we are blessed with, particularly our abundant hydroelectric power. However, like many residents, I've watched with frustration as our potential prosperity has been siphoned away by deals that prioritize Quebec's interests over our own. The 1969 Churchill Falls contract was a ghost that loomed large over our province—a reminder of how our own resources were used to enrich another province at our expense.

Now, fifty-four years later, we find ourselves on the precipice of yet another egregious agreement, the 2024 Churchill Falls Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This is not just a repeat of history—it is a perpetuation of a lopsided dynamic that quashes our province's autonomy and future prosperity. Once more, the MOU has been crafted under Quebec's terms and legal jurisdiction, denying us even the semblance of equitable negotiation and ultimately locking Newfoundland and Labrador out of true benefit from its own energy resources.

It is imperative that we pause this current MOU. Rushed negotiations that ignore the inherent rights and interests of Newfoundland and Labrador must not become the cornerstone of our shared future. This is not merely a provincial issue; it is a national concern about fairness between provinces and respecting the sovereignty and rights of each.

Fifty-four years ago, the Churchill Falls deal was a first-of-its-kind agreement where a province took control of another province’s resources with little regard for the host's legislation or prosperity. Such a deal was unprecedented then, and it remains unprecedented now for a reason: it is unjust and unsustainable.

Newfoundland and Labrador deserve a fair opportunity to negotiate deals that acknowledge and maximize the benefits from our own resources, without external pressures and manipulative deadlines favoring only Quebec. We call upon the federal government, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and all relevant stakeholders to pause the signing of this MOU. We must ensure that any future agreements are forged on mutual respect and equitable terms.

Join me, and countless others, in demanding the fair treatment our province has long been denied. Let us stop this 60-year MOU in its tracks and work together to build a prosperous future. Sign the petition today to make our voices heard and push for a just and equitable resolution.