Latest news with #HydroQuebec
CTV News
3 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Agreement in principle ratified for a major Hydro-Québec union
A Hydro-Quebec truck is seen in Montreal, Sept.1, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi) A major Hydro-Québec workers' union has just ratified the agreement in principle reached with the employer to renew its collective agreement. The union in question is the Syndicat des employés de techniques professionnelles et de bureau, which has 2,300 members. It represents approximately 100 different job titles, including customer service workers, equipment buyers, warehouse workers, drafters, administrative support staff, and others. The tentative agreement, which was reached on May 28, was ratified by 96 per cent of the workers, according to a statement released Friday by the local branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which is affiliated with the FTQ. The union had a five-day strike mandate, but did not have to exercise it. The new collective agreement will be valid for five years. The agreed-upon wage increases are as follows: 3 per cent in 2024 3 per cent in 2025 3.9 per cent in 2026 3.8 per cent in 2027 3.7 per cent in 2028 In an interview on Friday, local union president Dominic Champagne noted several other gains, including a letter of agreement on teleworking that will be included in the collective agreement. 'It maintains the right to telework and will be included in the agreement. We looked at what was being done elsewhere, and it's not customary to include it in the agreement. We checked during the negotiations and found no other union that had managed to include it in the agreement. We didn't find any,' Champagne said. He also noted that the Crown corporation initially wanted to reduce pension and disability benefits but dropped its demands on this issue. 'It's status quo; the employer withdrew its demands on both the pension plan and disability benefits. We maintained what we had,' he said. Champagne also noted the union was able to negotiate a reduction in the number of years of seniority required to qualify for vacation time. It also made other gains related to career advancement and medical arbitration. Hydro-Québec employs 23,280 workers and has 10 union certifications. Several unions are currently negotiating the renewal of their collective agreements. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 20, 2025.
CTV News
12 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Potential tornado touches down in Danville as Quebec hit by violent storms
A possible tornado may have struck Danville in the Eastern Townships as high winds tore through roofs, causing damage and leaving tens of thousands of people in the dark Thursday night. By mid-evening, Hydro-Quebec was reporting 20,000 power outages. As of Friday morning, there are still more than 16,000 addresses without electricity. This comes after Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Greater Montreal area, including a risk of tornado, strong winds, hail and torrential rain between 50 and 70 mm. These conditions were also favourable to form a large-scale storm, known as a 'supercell,' according to Alexandra Cournoyer, a weather spokesperson for the agency. 'These are storms with a lot of energy, humidity and instability. These storms have all the necessary ingredients that could come together to form a tornado.' The overnight risks were higher in the Eastern Townships, Montérégie and Centre-du-Québec regions. 'Obviously, these precipitation rates will vary locally because municipalities or cities directly in the path of the storm are likely to receive more precipitation than a municipality a few kilometres away from the storm's centre,' said Cournoyer. Other areas further north, particularly Mauricie, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Outaouais and the Laurentians, remain under a warning of 'occasionally heavy' rain for Friday. 'It could fall at a fairly high rate. This could eventually lead to torrential rains that could increase sudden river flooding in these regions,' said Cournoyer. All the same, humidity is expected to drop on Friday, along with temperatures, and return to seasonal norms. 'Starting on Saturday, depending on the prevailing winds and air masses, we will see a second wave of warm air from the United States arriving in parts of Quebec,' said Cournoyer. 'The spell of milder temperatures will not last long. Already for the weekend and early next week, we are monitoring a heat wave with high humidex.' With files from the Canadian Press.
Globe and Mail
13 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Hydro dynamics
Opinion How Quebec and Newfoundland overcame a century of hurt to reach a new deal on Churchill Falls Konrad Yakabuski The Globe and Mail Quebec Premier Francois Legault and former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador Andrew Furey shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding between Hydro-Québec and NL Hydro in St. John's on Dec. 12, 2024. Paul Daly/The Canadian Press to view this content.
National Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Carney picks Hydro-Quebec CEO Michael Sabia to head Privy Council
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is tapping Michael Sabia, a veteran of the public and private sector, to head up the Privy Council Office in Ottawa. Article content Sabia's tenure as clerk of the Privy Council and secretary to cabinet will begin July 7, replacing John Hannaford who is retiring. Article content Article content Serving as the head of Hydro-Quebec since 2023, Sabia was Canada's deputy finance minister through the pandemic years and early recovery. Article content He served as the head of Quebec's public pension plan for over a decade before that and is a former CEO of Bell Canada Enterprises. Article content Sabia was named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2017. Article content
Globe and Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Carney hires Hydro‑Québec CEO Michael Sabia to head federal bureaucracy
Prime Minister Mark Carney has recruited Hydro‑Québec CEO Michael Sabia to take over as the country's top bureaucrat to advance his ambitious agenda. Mr. Sabia had served as deputy minister of finance before he left government to serve as head of the Quebec pension plan and later Hydro‑Québec. The current Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford announced Wednesday that he will leaving the government as the head of the public service and top adviser to the Prime Minister. Mr. Carney had sought out Mr. Sabia because he needed a PCO clerk with business experience, who can push through his agenda that includes major nation-building projects, a revamped military, major housing initiatives and cost-cutting expenditures for the public service. 'Prime Minister Carney asked me to take on this role at time when the country is facing some unprecedented challenges,' Mr. Sabia said in a statement. 'In that context, I am joining the federal government to tackle this challenge head on.' The Prime Minister noted that Mr. Sabia brings over three decades of expertise across the public and private sectors. Aside from running Hydro‑Québec, Mr. Sabia headed the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), Bell Canada Enterprises and held senior roles at Canadian National Railway, and in the Privy Council Office. 'As Canada's new government builds the strongest economy in the G7, Mr. Sabia's leadership will be key to this mission,' Mr. Carney said, saying he will help the government 'advance nation-building projects, catalyze enormous private investment to drive growth, and deliver the change Canadians want and deserve.'
