Raising hydropower price is best response to Trump, suggests QS

Québec solidaire (QS) believes that the price of hydroelectricity exported to the United States should serve as negotiating leverage to respond to Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

In a press release made public on Sunday, the co-spokeswoman of QSRuba Ghazal, addresses Prime Minister François Legault directly, inviting him to consider this path if Donald Trump were to carry out his threat.

A united government would not hesitate to raise significant price increases for electricity sold on the American east coast to gain respect. Quebec must stand up to Trump. It’s not through taxes on orange juice that he’s going to take us seriously.

Government sources have indicated that Ottawa wants to impose tariffs on symbolic American products, including the famous orange juice from Florida – where the president-elect’s residence is located.

Hydroelectricity is one of our greatest negotiating assets to stand up to this imperialist president.

She recalls that nearly 75% of Hydro-Québec’s exports are destined for the United States.

About half of the hydropower exported out of the province goes to the New England region (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island), the Crown corporation says on its website.

Ms. Ghazal suggests, in fact, that Mr. Legault imitate his Ontario counterpart Doug Ford, who has already indicated that he was considering suspending energy exports to the United States to respond to threats from Donald Trump.

Independence of Quebec

The co-spokesperson of QS in passing, criticizes the federal government, highlighting the political crisis that the Liberal party is going through.

She sees it as one more reason to make Quebec independent.

More than ever, we see that being in a disunited and dysfunctional Canada weakens Quebec on the international scene.

Already in 2018, the Trudeau government sacrificed part of the Canadian dairy industry – more than half of which is in Quebec – to save Ontario car manufacturers. The Trudeau government had sacrificed part of the Canadian dairy industry – more than half of which is in Quebec – to save Ontario car manufacturers. I don’t want to see history repeat itselfcontinues Ms. Ghazal.

For the co-spokesperson of QS, an independent Quebec could put its interests at the heart of this commercial standoff, with hydroelectricity as the main negotiating lever, and ensure that Quebec’s jobs and economy are protected.

With information from The Canadian Press