Quebec Premier Franois Legault to shuffle cabinet after superminister steps down – Montreal [Video]

Quebec Premier François Legault was peppered with questions about electricity rates on Thursday as he was set to name a new minister responsible for navigating a major energy reform with billions of dollars of investment.

Wrapping up a caucus retreat in Rimouski, Que., about 265 kilometres northeast of Quebec City, Legault told reporters that over the past two days his team prepared for the upcoming legislative session by discussing issues such as health care, decarbonization and immigration.

But many of the questions directed at him involved the provincially owned utility — Hydro-Québec — and who will end up paying for investments topping $150 billion over the next decade that are expected to double its capacity.

Legault insisted that residential rates wouldn’t rise more than three per cent a year “as long as I’m premier, and in the foreseeable future.” But he hinted business will start to see their bills rise.

…