Hydro-Québec has been ordered to pay $5 million for failing to honor agreements with the Innu community, marking a significant legal victory.
Quebec: So, here’s the scoop. Hydro-Québec just got hit with a $5 million fine for acting in bad faith towards the Innu First Nation. This all goes back to a deal they made about a decade ago when they were working on the La Romaine hydroelectric project.
The court found that Hydro-Québec didn’t keep its promises and dragged its feet during negotiations. Justice Thomas M. Davis called out the company for not acting in good faith and ignoring the needs of the Innu community.
Chief Mike McKenzie of the Innu band said this ruling is a big win for them. He emphasized that companies like Hydro-Québec can’t just do whatever they want without facing consequences.
Back in 2014, they had a deal where Hydro-Québec was supposed to pay the Innu over $75 million, but they never followed through. The company claimed some families were against the deal, which made them backtrack.
During the trial, it came out that Hydro-Québec’s top brass didn’t even fully understand the agreement or the community’s concerns. They thought the deal was rejected when it actually wasn’t. Talk about a mix-up!
Now, with this court decision, the Innu community can go back to court and continue their fight. They want to make sure that any development on their land happens with their full consent. It’s a crucial moment for them, and they’re not backing down.
