Innu of Pessamit vote Sunday on $2.535 billion energy deal with Hydro-Québec

The Innu of Pessamit will hold a community vote Sunday to decide whether to accept the Aishkat Agreement — a $2.535 billion energy deal with Hydro-Québec and the Government of Québec that could settle years of legal disputes but comes with significant controversy.

The agreement provides compensation over 50 years to the community of approximately 4,000 people located about 60 kilometres southwest of Baie-Comeau on the North Shore. However, the 42-page document has sparked internal debate: it prevents the community from challenging future energy projects in court and opens its territory to new projects by the state-owned utility.

The deal addresses compensation for "existing infrastructure" — 16 power plants and 13 dams built across territory ranging 150 to 250 kilometres inland and extending roughly 450 kilometres deep, including the Manicouagan reservoir.

Hydro-Québec is offering $25 million per year for the first four years, followed by $12 million annually (indexed at 2 percent) for the next 46 years — totalling approximately $992 million over 50 years. The Government of Québec is providing nearly $632 million over 10 years. Combined, compensation for existing projects totals $1.624 billion.

In exchange, Pessamit would withdraw its lawsuit against Quebec and Hydro-Québec "in its entirety, permanently, and at no cost," and would agree "to no longer seek declarations regarding ancestral rights, including ancestral title and treaty rights." The community would also suspend legal action against the federal government while negotiations on the same compensation issues continue.

Hydro-Québec plans to add a new dam, Bersimis-1-A, strengthen its transmission network with new lines and substations, and develop wind power projects on Pessamit territory. The vote Sunday will determine whether residents accept these terms.