2023-05-24 15:37:35
The council of ministers will appoint Michael Sabia as head of Hydro-Québec next week. A “good guy” who has “a lot of qualities”, said his ex-employee at the Caisse de depot et placement du Québec Christian Dubé.
• Read also: Michael Sabia returns to Quebec at the head of Hydro-Québec
“We should have an announcement to make next week for the presidency of Hydro-Québec,” said Premier François Legault.
On Tuesday, the name of Sophie Brochu’s successor leaked to the media. This is the former CEO of the Caisse de depot et placement from 2009 to 2020, Michael Sabia, 69 years old.
The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, meanwhile briefly praised Michael Sabia. “We will wait for his appointment […]. He has many qualities. Many qualities. Lots of qualities,” he said.
Photo archives QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
In August 2014, Michael Sabia appointed Christian Dubé first vice-president for Quebec of the Caisse. He had left his post as CAQ MP for Lévis to join Mr. Sabia’s team.
In English, Mr. Dubé added that his ex-parton was “a good guy”.
Silent Fitzgibbon
Current deputy minister at the Department of Finance in Ottawa, Mr. Sabia does not, however, come from the energy sector, despite what had been advanced by the entourage of the Minister of Economy and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon.
The latter also refused to confirm the appointment of Michael Sabia,
Photo archives, QMI Agency
“We will wait, there will be an appointment that will be made at the appropriate time,” said Minister Fitzgibbon, also refusing to talk regarding the qualities of Michael Sabia in terms of energy. “He has not been named […] When we appoint the new president, we will have a discussion on all these questions.
Pierre Fitzgibbon sat on the board of directors of the Caisse de depot et placement during the presidency of Michael Sabia.
Skill?
For their part, the opposition parties do not doubt the managerial skills of Michael Sabia, but they doubt those related to the energy transition. They wonder regarding his vision of the future of energy in Quebec.
“The problem remains the same: is Mr. Sabia going to buy the Caquiste vision compared to the energy Dollarama? Will Mr. Sabia be free to say what he thinks regarding Quebec’s energy future? And are Quebecers today going [en] get their money’s worth in relation to a very clear energy vision?” said liberal Monsef Derraji.
Solidarity Haroun Bouazzi hopes that Mr. Sabia will come and explain his vision to the National Assembly.
“Mr. Sabia has a lot of experience in management and finance. The quality of management is very important, but the financial question is of no interest to Hydro-Québec […] These are very complicated operational questions, questions of energy transition… Unfortunately, he does not have that expertise either. That being said, we will give the runner a chance,” he said.
PQ Pascal Bérubé believes that Mr. Sabia does not really represent “a wind of change”.
“The liberals liked him very much, the caquistes like him as much. Ontarian Michael Sabia has a remarkable career in the financial field, but Hydro-Québec has demonstrated this in recent years […] it’s not what it used to be. There is a shift, an energy, ecological transition. I am not convinced that Mr. Sabia has this background, ”he said.
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