The government of François Legault appointed Mr. Bahan by decree to the CA of the state-owned company. (Photo: The Canadian Press)
Without fanfare, Quebec appointed a new government representative to the board of directors of Hydro-Quebec, a month before the announcement of the departure of its CEO Sophie Brochu.
This is David Bahan, who since 2018 has been Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, led by Pierre Fitzgibbon. The government of François Legault appointed Mr. Bahan by decree to the board of directors of the state-owned company on December 14.
His term expires on June 1, 2026, according to website of Hydro-Quebec.
Trained economist, M Materials previously worked at the Ministère des Finances from 2002 to 2018. He held several positions there, including those of deputy minister from 2013.
Without being an energy specialist, Mr. Bahan knows Hydro-Québec.
From 2016 to 2018, when the latter was Assistant Deputy Minister for Business Tax Policy, Economic Development and Crown Corporations at the Ministry of Finance, he was responsible for the energy producer with respect to the tax component.
Fourth change in two months
Since December 1, this is therefore the fourth game of musical chairs to occur on the board of directors and management of the government corporation, with the announced departures of Board President Jacinthe Côté, CEO Sophie Brochu and Executive Vice-President Éric Filion.
M. Replacement material Marie-Josee Lizottewho is currently Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.
Quebec had appointed Ms. Lizotte to the board of directors of Hydro-Quebec on August 19, 2020. She left her position on November 28, following a period of 2 years and 3 months.
However, on June 1, the cabinet of Prime Minister François Legault had nevertheless renewed its mandate as government representative on the board of Hydro-Québec.
“Mrs. Marie-Josée Lizotte has been reappointed to the board of directors of this company”, underlined the press release published then by the office of Prime Minister François Legault.
Since 2020, Ms. Lizotte has been Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
However, recently, Quebec transferred the energy portfolio to the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, which became the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy.
This decision to bring them together is part of the Legault government’s desire to have Hydro-Québec play a greater role in the province’s economic development, in particular by building new dams.
At Hydro-Québec, we confirm that there is a tradition according to which the government representative on the board of directors of the Crown corporation is a deputy minister of energy. (Photo: 123RF)
From 2010 to 2020, Ms. Lizotte also held various positions at the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight once morest Climate Change, including that of Assistant Deputy Minister for Environmental Assessments and Authorizations.
Joined by Dealsthe Ministry of the Executive Council – the office of the Prime Minister – affirms in an email that Ms. Lizotte “resigned” in the wake of the creation of the new Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy.
“Following the changes in the structure of the ministry, Marie‐Josée Lizotte, member of the Board of Hydro-Québec, resigned from her position on November 28, 2022. The practice is that it is the deputy minister responsible for energy who sits to the CA”, writes a spokesperson.
At Hydro-Québec, we confirm that there is a tradition according to which the government representative on the board of directors of the Crown corporation is a deputy minister of energy.
However, the Executive Council was unable to explain whether or not it had a link between the new appointment of Mr. Bahan to the Board of Directors of Hydro-Québec and the more economic mission now assigned to the state company.
The official reasons for the departures
Hydro-Québec has therefore been the scene of four major changes in just over two months.
On December 1, Hydro-Québec issued a press release in which she announced that Jacynthe Côté had informed the government that she would not seek a second term as President of the Board following the one ending in May.
To justify her departure, Ms. Côté mentioned the fact that she was appointed chair of the board of the Royal Bank.
On January 10, Sophie Brochu announced that she would leave office on April 11. This decision had created a shock wave, once morest a backdrop of rumors of strained relations between her and Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy.
Ms. Brochu has repeatedly denied that the announcement of her departure might have anything to do with Quebec’s desire to become more involved in the affairs of the state-owned company.
However, according to several sources interviewed by Dealsher departure is the symptom of a clash of visions on the future of sustainable development between the CEO of Hydro-Québec and Pierre Fiztgibbon, the super minister of the Economy.
Finally, on January 31, it was Éric Filion’s turn to announce his departure from Hydro-Québec. In a statement, he said he wants to start a “new chapter in his career”.
A week later, on February 6, he announced that he had joined his former boss at Bombardier, Éric Martel, CEO of the Quebec aircraft manufacturer, who also led Hydro-Quebec from 2015 to 2020.
