Title : Ontario First Nations call for province to 'clean up' the 'mess' over East-West transmission line
link : Ontario First Nations call for province to 'clean up' the 'mess' over East-West transmission line
Ontario First Nations call for province to 'clean up' the 'mess' over East-West transmission line
Several First Nations in northern Ontario are demanding the provincial government, in their words, "clean up" the process to determine who will build a high-capacity power transmission line in the northwest, and vow to appeal any decision that awards the contract to Hydro One.
The proposed East-West Transmission Project would stretch from Thunder Bay to Wawa and is designed to improve the reliability of the supply of electricity in northern Ontario.
At issue is who will build the power line. NextBridge Infrastructure has been the main proponent of the project since 2012 but in 2018, Hydro One appealed to the previous provincial government, saying it could build the line for less with reduced maintenance costs and was allowed to submit a competing bid for construction.
That, according to area communities, has delayed the project.
The late submission by Hydro One shouldn't be allowed, Fort William First Nation Chief Peter Collins told a news conference in Toronto on Thursday, saying that "Hydro One is an interloper coming in at the last minute, trying to take over the project ... without doing the work it needs to do."
That work, Collins said while flanked by representatives from other partnered First Nations, includes fully consulting with and accommodating First Nations under the existing constitutional framework and conducting its own environmental assessments. Other communities involved in the partnership include Pic Mobert First Nation, Opwaaganasiniing (also known as the Red Rock Indian Band), Michipicoten, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg — or Pic River First Nation — and Pays Plat First Nation.
The Ontario Energy Board is now scheduled to award the project in February. NextBridge said in 2017, pending OEB approval, actual construction work would start in late 2018.
Chiefs say province needs to step in
The community leaders called on Ontario's Energy Minister Greg Rickford to grant the leave to construct — the final approval to build the line — to NextBridge, arguing that the previous Liberal government shouldn't have, according to a written release, "left the door open" to allow Hydro One to enter a bid so late in the process.
After NextBridge was awarded the sole right to do all the pre-construction developement work for the power line project, the First Nations formed an economic partnership called Bamkushwada and, through an ownership agreement with the company, said they could help bring 600 to 1,000 job opportunities to the region and "many millions" in contracting opportunities.
"That companies such as Hydro One can do this and dissolve all that has been developed by NextBridge and our [partnership] and all the opportunities we have created will signal to ... everyone in Ontario that Ontario's not open for business, at least fair business," Collins said of a scenario where Hydro One is awarded the construction project.
"The Ontario government opened up this line to competition, that happened back in 2012, companies competed [and] ... NextBridge was awarded that right."
Another issue, Collins said, is that Hydro One's proposed route for the transmission line goes through Pukaskwa National Park is at odds with ongoing Aboriginal title claims over the land.
NextBridge's proposed route goes around Pukaskwa.
An emailed statement from Rickford's press secretary did not mention the minister stepping in to award the project to NextBridge, saying that Rickford is aware of the First Nations' concerns and that he is "disappointed" that the Ontario Energy Board "continues to stall on this important project."
"Our government takes the duty to consult seriously and it is committed to ensuring that all Indigenous communities are properly consulted and kept informed regardless of the result of the OEB process."
Collins said he was scheduled to meet with Rickford's office Thursday afternoon.
Hydro One 'committed' to working with First Nations
In an emailed statement, Hydro One said its proposal will be the more "cost-effective" and environmentally-friendly one.
The utility added that its project will create opportunities for Indigenous people, saying that it is "committed to maximizing these opportunities for Indigenous communities and businesses for this project."
Hydro One said that, if it is chosen to construct the power line, it will pursue similar joint ownership agreements that the First Nations currently have with NextBridge "for the ongoing economic benefit of communities once the line is in-service."
In its written release, the First Nations argued that Hydro One can't possibly calculate or assume costs accurately without first undetaking the same level of consultation that NextBridge has.
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