Government of Canada Provides Early Decision on the Adding Capacity to Sainte-Marguerite-3 Generating Station Project in Quebec
The proponent, Hydro-Québec, may now move forward with obtaining any necessary authorizations and permits from federal authorities.
To arrive at its section 16 decision under the Impact Assessment Act, IAAC engaged other jurisdictions, federal experts, stakeholders, the public, and Indigenous Peoples to review the project description and identify potential impacts to federal jurisdiction and ensure they can be addressed.
IAAC is of the view that the potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through existing federal and provincial laws and regulations. These include but are not limited to the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, as well as Quebec's Environment Quality Act.
As a result, a more comprehensive federal impact assessment is not required.
The documents and list of factors considered can be found in IAAC's decision with reasons.
Quick Facts
Hydro-Québec is proposing to increase the capacity of the Sainte-Marguerite-3 hydroelectric power station on the Sainte-Marguerite River near Sept-Îles, Quebec. As proposed, the project would include the installation of a third generating unit in the existing power station, at the site earmarked for this purpose, as well as the construction of a 300-metre underground penstock linking the headrace tunnel to the future generating unit. The project would increase the capacity of the existing power station by at least 440 megawatts, for a total of 1,322 megawatts.
The review process from start to finish took 60 days to complete.
IAAC facilitates the sustainable development of major projects subject to the Impact Assessment Act through open and efficient assessments. These assessments identify ways to ensure the environment and Indigenous Rights are protected as projects get built.
Decisions like these ensure that Canada's impact assessment process is efficient by determining at an early stage whether a comprehensive impact assessment is required or not.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Cision Canada
Montfort Capital Announces Reinstatement of Trading on TSXV
TORONTO, July 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Montfort Capital Corp. (TSXV: MONT) (" Montfort" or the " Company") is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the " TSXV" or the " Exchange") has accepted its application for reinstatement of trading of the Company's common shares on the TSXV. This follows the successful resolution of the Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders (collectively, the " FFCTO") issued by the Ontario Securities Commission (the " OSC") on May 7, 2025 and June 5, 2025, and revoked on May 28, 2025 and June 12, 2025, respectively. The Company expects its common shares to be reinstated for trading shortly. The FFCTO was issued as a result of the delay in the filing of the Company's annual audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the " Late Annual Financial Statements"). The delay in filing the annual financial statements had a cascading effect which caused the Company to also be late in filing its interim financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025 (the " Late Interim Financial Statements" and together with the Late Annual Financial Statements, the " Late Financial Statements"). The Company filed the Late Annual Financial Statements on May 27, 2025 and filed the Late Interim Financial Statements on June 11, 2025, whereby the OSC automatically revoked the FFCTO. Upon the revocation of the FFCTO, the Company applied to the TSXV to have its Common Shares and Series A Class A Preferred Shares reinstated for trading. The Company acknowledges and appreciates the patience of its shareholders and stakeholders during this process and reaffirms its commitment to adhering to high standards of compliance and corporate governance. In addition to the announcement regarding the reinstatement of trading on the TSXV, the Company is providing an update on a number of matters, including the following: Related Party Loans Disclosure During the financial year ended December 31, 2023, lending subsidiaries of the Company issued unsecured demand promissory notes to Godsoe Financial Capital Corporation, an entity controlled by Michael Godsoe, former director and officer of Langhaus Financial Corporation, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,175,000 to fund their lending activities (the " 2023 Related Party Notes"). The 2023 Related Party Notes are due in September 30, 2025 and yield an interest rate of TD Prime Rate plus 125 basis points per annum. During the financial year ended December 31, 2024, the Company and lending subsidiaries of the Company issued unsecured demand promissory notes to certain directors and officers of the Company for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,450,000 to fund their loan book (the " 2024 Related Party Notes"). The 2024 Related Party Notes represent less than 1.0% of the total consolidated indebtedness of the Company. The 2024 Related Party Notes are payable within 180 days of demand and yield an interest rate between 8% to 12% per annum. During the six months June 30, 2025, lending subsidiaries of the Company issued additional unsecured demand promissory notes to a certain director of the Company for aggregate gross proceeds of $350,000 for additional funding to their loan book (the " 2025 Related Party Notes" and together with the 2023 Related Party Notes and 2024 Related Party Notes, the " Related Party Notes"). The 2025 Related Party Notes are payable within 180 days of demand and yield an interest rate of 8 to 12% per annum. The Related Party Notes remain subject to TSXV acceptance. Amended Pivot General Facility Pivot Financial I Limited Partnership (" Pivot LP") entered into a 2 nd amended and restated credit agreement (the " Amended Pivot General Facility") dated August 2, 2024 with Cortland Credit Lending Corporation, as lender, with the Company, 2862454 Ontario Inc., Brightpath Capital Corporation, Langhaus Financial Corporation and Langhaus Financial Partners Inc., each continuing to act as guarantors. The loan commitment under the Amended Pivot General Facility is $22.75 million and US$3.0 million. The purpose of the Amended Pivot General Facility was to extend the maturity date to April 30, 2025, which was further extended to June 30, 2025. Pivot LP is currently working towards another extension of the Amended Pivot General Facility with Cortland Credit Lending Corporation. The Amended Pivot General Facility remains subject to TSXV acceptance. At the end of March 2025, Pivot LP was in breach of the Amended Pivot General Facility by breaching a financial covenant that limits its total advances to certain borrowers to $16.5 million. On April 23, 2025, Pivot LP rectified this covenant breach after receiving a $2.5 million principal payment from a borrower subject to the financial covenant under the Amended Pivot General Facility. Incite Capital Markets Agreement On May 1, 2020, the Company engaged Incite Capital Markets Inc., an arm's length firm (" Incite") to assist with corporate awareness and investor relations, which included developing communications strategies for Montfort. Incite received a fee of $8,000 plus applicable taxes per month for fiscal years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and the monthly fee was increased to $9,000 plus applicable taxes commencing January 1, 2023. The Company terminated services with Incite effective March 1, 2024. Incite and its principals hold approximately 3.0% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company. The engagement of Incite to provide investor relations services to the Company remains subject to TSXV acceptance. Incite is a Vancouver-based capital markets advisory corporation. Incite provides expertise in capital markets, corporate communications, and investor and media relations. In addition to strategic insights, Incite invests in small to mid-sized technology companies. For further information, please visit Langhaus LifeCo Securitization Facility Langhaus Insurance Finance LP III (" Langhaus LP III"), though its general partner, LIF GP III Corporation, as seller, entered into a master purchase and servicing agreement (the " LifeCo Facility") dated September 10, 2024 with a major Canadian life insurer (" LifeCo"), as purchaser and agent, whereby Langhaus LP III agreed to sell certain Payments and Related Assets (each as defined in the LifeCo Facility) (collectively, the " LifeCo Receivables") associated with insurance-backed loans originated by Langhaus Financial Corporation. To secure the payment of the LifeCo Receivables, Langhaus Financial Corporation, parent to Langhaus LP III and a subsidiary of the Company, pledged all accounts of Langhaus LP III, including records therefor and proceeds thereof, to the LifeCo. The LifeCo Facility has a purchase limit of $25,000,000 and includes a securitization factor of 92%. Langhaus MOU with Canadian Life Insurer In January 2025, Langhaus signed a memorandum of understanding (" MOU") with a major Canadian life insurance company to achieve certain business volume targets over a five-year period that commenced December 31, 2024. If volume targets have not been achieved by the end of the five-year period, Langhaus could be liable for a payment to the life insurance company of up to $2.1 million. Management estimates the business volume targets are achievable in the normal course of operations and the probability of a payment being required at the end of the five-year period is very low. As a result, no contingent liability is expected to be recorded in relation to this MOU. On Behalf of the Board of Directors: Ken Thomson, Director & Chief Executive Officer Montfort Capital Corp. Web: About Montfort Capital Montfort is a trusted provider of focused private credit strategies for institutional investors, family offices, and wealth managers. We employ focused strategies, experienced management teams and advanced technology to drive risk-adjusted investment returns. For further information, please visit Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, " forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "anticipates," "intends," "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "projects" and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release may include statements about the time of the reinstatement of trading of the Company's securities on the TSXV and the extension to the Amended Pivot General Facility. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated that could affect the reinstatement of trading of the Company's securities on the TSXV and the ability for Pivot LP to extend the maturity date of the Amended Pivot General Facility. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. SOURCE Montfort Capital Corp.
Cision Canada
a day ago
- Cision Canada
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Agriculture meet to help strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the sector Français
OTTAWA, ON, July 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Yesterday, federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture met virtually to discuss ways to support a more resilient and competitive agriculture sector and food supply chains that make up Canada's agri-food landscape. Ministers discussed possible measures to support the hard-working producers and processors across Canada to address the emerging challenges related to international trade and the potential opportunities that could be created by increased interprovincial trade. Ministers reiterated their commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of business risk management (BRM) programs. Due to the uncertain trade environment and unfavourable climate conditions in parts of the country, Ministers agreed to take the necessary steps to implement a package of enhancements to the AgriStability program. For the 2025 program year only, the compensation rate will be increased from 80% to 90% and the maximum payment limit will be increased from $3 million to $6 million. These changes are meant to help producers manage the risks they face. In addition, for AgriStability, starting in the 2026 program year, provinces and territories will have the option to use a new inventory valuation method for inventories destined to be used on-farm. Ministers agreed to seek the necessary approvals to include feed costs associated with rented pasture as an allowable expense in advance of the 2026 program year, report back on progress at the September annual meeting and to continue a review of AgriStability allowable expenses. FPT Ministers are working together to increase interprovincial trade of food. Ministers discussed a variety of options, including ways to remove barriers to internal food trade and identify new trade opportunities. Ministers also discussed enhanced client service support from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for small to medium-sized businesses wishing to market food products across Canada under a federal food licence, increasing slaughter capacity where possible in regions with restricted access to services, and allowing interprovincial trade of low-risk manufactured foods without a federal licence. These ideas will be informed by the two ongoing pilots on meat trade and slaughter that are being accelerated. These initiatives aim to support business growth and improve market access, while maintaining Canada's robust food safety system. FPT Ministers highlighted the critical importance of joint efforts across governments to maintain, expand and diversify international market access. In support of this work, Ministers discussed the federal Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office and other resources in the region. Ministers also emphasized the importance of engaging with China at the highest level, to improve the overall trade relationship and to remove Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture and seafood products. Ministers also underscored the benefits of existing trade agreements and emphasized the importance of considering the impact of tariffs on businesses. The annual conference of FPT Ministers of Agriculture will take place in-person in Winnipeg, Manitoba September 7-9, 2025. Quotes "Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our farmers, ranchers and food processors across the country, we've earned a reputation for producing the best products in the world. By working together across governments, we can continue to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of our sector, drive economic growth, and help to ensure Canadian products continue to lead on quality, safety, and sustainability." - The Honourable Heath MacDonald, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food "The province of Manitoba strongly supports our agricultural producers, the backbone of the Manitoba economy. We remain committed to working with other levels of governments, private sector partners and other provinces to deliver programs that support food security, and sustainable practices to ensure the economic viability of farms. We will continue to work tirelessly to advocate for important programs that help producers manage environmental and market risks in a changing global political environment." - The Honourable Ron Kostyshyn, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture Quick facts Canada's global exports of agriculture and agri-food in 2024 overall was $92.2 billion in 2024, compared to $91.6 billion in 2023. In 2024, Canada exported nearly $100.3 billion globally in agri-food, fish and seafood products combined. In 2023, that number was $99.2 billion. Related products: SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Time to pay the piper for Hydro's old, ignored infrastructure
Opinion Manitoba Hydro's decision to spend an estimated $7 billion to upgrade the Bipole I and II transmission lines may be a necessary investment, but let's be clear: it's just the tip of the iceberg. The Crown utility has been falling behind on asset upgrades for decades which has allowed a critical backlog of aging infrastructure to pile up. It's not a new problem, and it's not limited to the Bipoles. Hydro's own 2022 asset management report says the corporation faces a mountain of long-overdue upgrades in nearly every part of its system — from substations to transformers, aging wooden poles to buried cables, and even dams. Some of the infrastructure is decades past its best-before date. The longer it gets put off, the more expensive the fixes become. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Manitoba Hydro must be transparent with the public about the full scope of its infrastructure backlog, writes Brodbeck. About 27 per cent of Hydro's generator assets exceed the economic life cycle of 60 years 'where there is an increased risk of a prolonged outage should a failure occur,' the report says. Another 23 per cent fall within the 40- to 60-year range 'where planning of unit overhauls should be initiated,' it says. 'Manitoba Hydro is projecting that many of its asset populations will require significant intervention today, and increasing in the near future, in order to avoid accelerated system performance degradation and diminished supply,' the report says. 'Manitoba Hydro can anticipate a large number of generator assets approaching economic end-of-life prior to intervention, if the current intervention pace is not significantly accelerated.' If you're shocked by the $7-billion price tag for Bipole I and II, wait until you see the full bill coming due for the rest of Hydro's neglected infrastructure. We're not just talking hundreds of millions here — we're talking billions more. Hydro's asset management report pulls no punches. The utility admits it has not replaced aging assets fast enough to keep pace with their deterioration. Take wooden distribution poles, for example — thousands across the province are well past their expected life span; some are approaching 60 or even 70 years in service. Hydro estimates that a significant portion of its assets are in 'poor' or 'very poor' condition. And no, that doesn't mean they'll all fall apart tomorrow. It does mean they're more prone to failure, harder to repair, and more expensive to replace in emergency situations. That's a dangerous place for a power utility to be. Manitobans shouldn't be too shocked, though. The 2022 report was not the first to shine a light on Hydro's failure to keep up with infrastructure upgrades. Countless reports have detailed how far behind Hydro has fallen in infrastructure upgrades. So how did it get this bad? Part of the problem is systemic. Like many large public utilities, Hydro has struggled with balancing long-term maintenance needs against short-term financial pressures. For years, the Crown corporation kept rates artificially low by putting off major maintenance in favour of keeping electricity affordable. That may have worked politically — who doesn't love cheap power? — but it came at the expense of sustainability. Then there's the legacy of major capital projects, such as Bipole III and the Keeyask Generating Station, which drained billions from Hydro's borrowing capacity and diverted attention and resources away from basic asset renewal. By the time Keeyask was completed — years late and billions over budget — Hydro was facing serious debt challenges. Meanwhile, the quiet deterioration of the system continued. Now, the chickens are coming home to roost. But identifying the problem is only half the battle. Fixing it is going to require sustained investment and political will. Unfortunately, the current political climate doesn't bode well for that. Premier Wab Kinew's NDP government is under pressure to keep electricity rates low and deliver on promises to freeze hydro bills for at least a year. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. That's the bind the province is in: everyone agrees Hydro needs to fix its aging infrastructure, but no one wants to pay for it. Delaying it further will only compound the problem. What's needed now is honesty. Manitoba Hydro must be transparent with the public about the full scope of its infrastructure backlog. How many substations are past due for replacement? How many kilometres of transmission lines are vulnerable to weather events? What's the real price tag to get the system back into good shape? Manitobans deserve to know. Likewise, the provincial government must stop pretending that rate freezes and deferred maintenance are a long-term strategy. They're not. The cost of rebuilding Hydro's system is going to be substantial — and there's no getting around it. Whether it's through modest rate increases, government support, or some combination of both, someone is going to have to foot the bill. Bipole I and II are just the beginning. If Manitoba wants to keep the lights on — and its economy humming — it needs to stop kicking the can down the road. The time to invest in Hydro's aging infrastructure is now, before the problems get worse and the cost skyrockets. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
