The new CEO of Hydro-Québec, Claudine Bouchard, judges that it is “impossible” to respond to the explosion of electricity demand without a radical change in the ways of working with its 23,000 employees. In an internal meeting and according to documents obtained by Radio-Canada, the Crown Company encourages them to “daring” and taking “risks”, which worries a union.
Entry into post on July 5, Claudine Bouchard held a meeting with the employees on July 10. In the recording of this meeting, we discover a clear and repeated message from the new boss: Take risks, but calculated risks
.
What we have to do is ambitious, then it’s historic
she explained. You have to work beyond boxes and lines.
People, let’s be unreasonable.
Hydro-Québec must increase its electricity production by 50 % within 10 years, the equivalent of five to six Roman complexes, an unprecedented pace in the recent history of the Crown Company.
The 2035 action plan provides for the investment of $ 185 billion with the construction of 5,000 kilometers of new electricity transport lines and the massive deployment of wind turbines on the territory, breaking with the hydroelectric tradition.
To get there, Hydro-Québec must recruit up to 55,000 construction workers per year and succeed in getting along quickly with Aboriginal communities to launch this huge project.
Hydro-Québec is also committed to considerably reducing the number of breakdowns and multiplying energy saving efforts.
Photo: discovery
It has to work
said Claudine Bouchard, addressing her teams. You have to move forward, but for that, you have to trust yourself, you have to be able to work in a team, you have to give yourself help, you have to ask for help too.
We know that there are things that are going less well. […] We give you the responsibility, the accountability of doing things differently. Try things. Will it work the first time? Maybe not. If you don’t try, you won’t know it.
According to the CEOwithout this audacity, Unfortunately, it will not be possible to create this legacy, this wealth for the next generations
.
It gave the example of the construction of three very high voltage transport lines at the same time, while usually, Hydro-Québec made one at a time.
Hydro-Québec line editors intervene during a breakdown. (Archives photo)
Photo : Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
A union is concerned about the “price to pay”
The Syndicate of Hydro-Québec (SSPHQ), which represents more than 5,000 employees, has declined our interview request, because it is currently under negotiation with the Crown Company.
However, we have obtained a letter addressed to its members in which he criticizes the Priority behaviors
prescribed by the employer.
Did you ask yourself the question of the price to pay?
writes it SSPHQ.
The absence of a clear definition of the objectives and actions leaves the shadow of the de -unit on the part of the senior management in the event of a problem. Will the scapegoat be the one who dared?
The union wonders about Acceptability limits
of these risks. Who will assume the consequences? Not sure that if it does not go as planned, Hydro-Québec will be there to tell you that we are all entitled to error in risk taking.
No health and safety risks, assures Hydro-Québec
In an internal document distributed to employees describing Priority behavior
To adopt to make the 2035 action plan, Hydro-Québec requests that we dare to take calculated risks and take action
but without specifying that this excludes health and safety risks.
Questioned by Radio-Canada, the Crown Company ensures that the concept of Calculated risk
in no way concerns the health or safety of workers. Occupational health and safety are an absolute priority. […] There is no compromise to do
written by email the spokesperson Caroline des Rosiers.
By “calculated risks”, we intend to encourage our teams to show initiative, to go out of the beaten track and to offer innovative solutions, in a marked setting.
No, Hydro-Québec will not double its size in 10 years
It is not true, it is impossible
wanted to clarify the vice-president Maxime Aucoin during the meeting with the employees. It is the demand that will double, but we will not double the production.
He mentioned the efforts of energy efficiency and the change of ways of doing
: we have to be challengeryou have to be unreasonable
he resumed, in turn. This is the only way to get there.
The CEO Claudine Bouchard plans to make two mandates at the head of the French company until 2035. I’ve been at Hydro-Québec for 25 years. I intend to go as far as I will allow me to go.
