ST. JONES — The four-day debate on a draft energy agreement with Quebec began with a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Progressive Conservative Party crossing the floor.
Keith Russell told the St. John’s, NL, legislature that he will now represent his constituency of Lake Melville in Labrador as an independent, but did not say why he was leaving the ruling party.
He said the choice was difficult, but he had to listen to his conscience and put the people of his district first.
His move leaves the province’s Progressive Conservative Party with half of the 40 seats in the legislature, but they retain a working majority government because the Speaker does not vote unless there is a tie.
Members of the legislature are discussing a proposed multibillion-dollar agreement to share Labrador’s hydroelectric power with Hydro-Québec.
If finalized, the draft agreement could end decades of feuding between the provinces and lead to the construction of new hydroelectric and wind farms along the Churchill River.
The province’s electricity companies co-own and operate the 5,400-megawatt Churchill Falls hydroelectric dam under a contract that Newfoundland and Labrador has long believed was lopsided in favor of Hydro-Québec.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2026.