After 10 years of Liberal rule, voters handed Tony Wakeham’s Progressive Conservatives a narrow majority and a clear message: the province’s energy future needs a reset. Our research shows that women overwhelmingly support expanding energy infrastructure and exports, sending a clear signal for policymakers to lead with energy policy in mind. In fact, 76 per cent of engaged women in Atlantic Canada recognize that energy is a key driver of the Canadian economy.
At the centre of the election campaign was a proposed multibillion-dollar deal with Quebec over Churchill Falls power, an agreement the outgoing government framed as the province’s financial lifeline. The Churchill Falls hydroelectric station in Labrador produces most of the province’s electricity, along with exporting power to Quebec under a long-standing contract that has long been criticized as unfair. The original Churchill Falls agreement was signed more than 50 years ago, locking in prices so low that Newfoundland and Labrador earned way below value for the power sold to Quebec.
The deal became a defining issue of the race and now faces uncertainty following the Liberal defeat. Wakeham has said the agreement will be paused for an independent review and not finalized without a referendum. His stance struck a chord in a province long shaped by the legacy of unequal power contracts and missed returns on resource projects.
This provincial election underscored how energy decisions shape trust, prosperity, and feelings about the future. For engaged women, the result echoes a national view: when leaders link energy to jobs, affordability, and long-term stability, they connect with what Canadians value most.