Hydro-Qubec to proceed with $1.3B transmission line project

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard has announced Hydro-Qubec will go aheadwith the construction of anew $1.3-billiontransmission line which willrun 450 kilometres,fromChamouchouane in theLacSaint-Jeanregion to Bout-de-l'le, in Montreal.

The line would be, 'a450-kilometrescar across Quebec,'-RawdonMayorBrunoGuilbault

The provincially owned utility says the proposed 735-kilovolt power line the biggest undertaking of its kind in Quebec in 20 yearswill help meet growing demand for electricityin southern Quebec and reduce electricity losses.

In a report released last month, the province's environmental review board, the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE), recommended that further study was needed before the project could be approved.

Premier Philippe Couillard acknowledged that there was some oppositionto the project, but he said it was in the best interests of allQuebecers.

"No large project will be unanimously agreed upon, but we have heldextensive consultations," said Couillard.

The major new line will cut through the Lanaudire region, northeast of Montreal near the town of Rawdon.

RawdonMayorBruno Guilbault, who was at today's announcement,said many people in his communityare worried about the project, which hecalled a "450-kilometrescar across Quebec."

Guilbault said Hydro-Qubec has done a poor job of explaining theproject, adding thathe hopesfuture meetings would help clarify some ofhis concerns.

Hydro-Qubec 'like a bulldozer'

The line will cut right through Rawdon dairy farmer Jeannie Neveu'sland.

Neveutestified at the BAPE hearings to voice her opposition to the project.

"Hydro-Quebec's like a bulldozer. It gets something and it just goes, and it's very annoying," Neveu said Friday.

"The only way that a citizen or a person has a say in anything is at these public hearingsand we went and they listened, but obviously the government's not listening to them so why bother? It's just a waste. A waste of my timea waste of everybody's time."

The project is expected to be completed in 2019.