THUNDER BAY, ONT. — A key milestone in the development of the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Line Project in northwestern Ontario was achieved March 22 with the announcement of federal and provincial government funding of $1.6 billion.
The funding framework supports the viability of the Wataynikaneyap Power transmission business with 22 First Nations and Fortis Inc. participating as the equity investors, said a media statement. The First Nations equally own 51 per cent while Fortis owns 49 per cent of the project.
The project will connect 17 remote First Nations communities to Ontario’s electrical grid. Wataynikaneyap Power will develop, manage construction and operate approximately 1,800 kilometres of 230 kilovolt, 115 kilovolt and 44 kilovolt lines.
The First Nations currently obtain power through diesel. The statement said a majority of the remote communities are at capacity with their diesel generators or face electrical load restrictions limiting the construction of homes and other infrastructure that would support community growth.
It has been estimated the project will create 769 jobs during construction.
The project will proceed in phases with phase one reinforcing the existing 70-year-old grid to Pickle Lake, located about 350 kilometres north of Thunder Bay. Phase two will bring new transmission capacity north of Pickle Lake and Red Lake servicing the 17 priority communities, with more to come after that. One previously published timeline indicated the project could be completed in 2023.
Last November Wataynikaneyap Power announced the selection of PowerTel Utilities Contractors Ltd. to build the 117-kilometre Pikangikum Power Line Project, which will connect Pikangikum First Nation to Ontario’s power grid at Red Lake.
Firms involved in early planning for the project include PWC; Goldcorp, doing pre-development work; Torys, project counsel; and Golder, with environmental assessment consulting.
The funding framework goals include the establishment of a viable transmission business to be eventually owned and operated 100 per cent by the First Nations.
“Today’s announcement reinforces the vision of our elders who signed onto the treaty to share in the benefits of any major development that occurs in the homelands, originally contemplated by the First Law,” said Margaret Kenequanash, CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power, in the statement. “It also brings us to another significant milestone to achieve the aspirations of our people.”
“The federal government is proud to support this historic Indigenous-led transmission project. This project became a reality because of the leadership of Wataynikaneyap Power and the federal and provincial commitment to work with First Nation communities to improve health and socioeconomic outcomes,” commented Jane Philpott, minister of Indigenous Services Canada.
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