James Bay Energy

[1] In the summer of 1971, the National Assembly of Quebec passed Bill 50, an Act establishing the Société de développement de la Baie James (SDBJ), a Crown corporation tasked with the development of natural resources as well as the general administration of the James Bay territory.

The development of the hydroelectric potential was the focus of a newly created subsidiary (the SEBJ) with Hydro-Québec as a majority shareholder along with the SDBJ.

[2] Both corporations would be chaired by Pierre A. Nadeau, an insurance executive recruited by Robert Bourassa's money man, Paul Desrochers.

[3] The passage of Bill 50 was controversial with Hydro-Québec's top executives, who felt the government tried to bypass the powerful utility.

He was replaced by Boyd, who kept informed of the latest development on the project by consulting with colleagues on the board on a daily basis.