Law 69: the government's energy reform adopted under gag order

Bill 69 on energy was adopted under gag order on Saturday morning.

Adopted just before 5 a.m., this energy reform will give Hydro-Québec the freedom to increase its electricity production.

Investments of nearly 200 billion are planned by 2035.

Despite the opposition's strong criticism of the bill, the government is justifying the use of the gag order to avoid economic losses estimated at $6 billion if work does not begin this summer.

Several opposition MPs reacted to the adoption of the bill on Saturday morning.

"Bill 69 denationalizes Hydro-Québec. Quebecers will see their [electricity] bills increase in the coming years," lamented Ruba Ghazal, parliamentary leader of Québec solidaire.

Interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay, for his part, said that "the economy is taking a hit" under Bill 69, and that Quebec Premier François Legault "is not prioritizing Quebec first."

"We have just ceded part of René Lévesque's legacy," declared Pascal Paradis, the Parti Québécois MP for Jean-Talon, who finds it "unfortunate" that the bill was adopted "in the middle of the night, while Quebecers were sleeping."

More details to come.