‘Justice has prevailed’: Métis sign $120-M deal with Hydro By: Danielle Da Silva Posted: 6:45 PM CDT Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023

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This article was published 03/08/2023 (1116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Hydro has signed a $120-million agreement with the Manitoba Métis Federation to lock in support for existing and future developments, reviving a tentative agreement cancelled five years ago and described as “hush money” by former premier Brian Pallister.

The deal — formally described as a “revitalization agreement” — spans 50 years and addresses adverse effects of the Crown corporation’s existing hydroelectric developments and operations on the rights of the Red River Métis, under Section 35 of the Constitution Act.

MMF and Manitoba Hydro had been quietly negotiating the deal for about a year before finally inking the agreement on Thursday, federation president David Chartrand said.

“It’s a good day for Manitoba. It’s a good day for the Métis, and it’s a good day for everyone,” Chartrand said in an interview Thursday.

It marks the end to a lengthy political and legal saga in which Manitoba Hydro’s board of directors resigned en masse after Pallister directed the public utility to cancel a tentative $67.5-million, 50-year compensation package in March 2018.

At the time, the former premier called the deal “hush money” to gain support for a transmission line to Minnesota, and described the Métis federation as a special interest group.

The arrangement would have provided the MMF with annual payments of $1.5 million a year for 20 years and a $37.5-million lump sum payment, to be placed in a trust fund, among other benefits.

In exchange, the MMF would withdraw opposition to the transmission line and agree to support Hydro applications for the duration of the agreement.

“It’s a good day for Manitoba. It’s a good day for the Métis, and it’s a good day for everyone.”–David Chartrand

Sandy Riley, who was board chair of Manitoba Hydro at the time, described the agreement as a good deal for Manitoba. Currently, Riley is Premier Heather Stefanson’s energy adviser.

In response to Pallister’s dumping of the deal, the MMF launched a legal battle that argued the drafted deal was the best way to avoid going to court to define Métis land rights in the Red River Valley, especially pertaining to future projects around Winnipeg.

A Court of Queen’s Bench ruling found the cabinet directive cancelling the deal was lawful, which the Court of Appeal upheld. In March 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada denied the MMF’s application to hear its appeal on the matter.

The new agreement between MMF and Hydro also establishes processes for working together on a range of issues related to the utility’s developments and operations, and includes commitments to establish a long-term revitalization fund, and a defined forum for ongoing dialogue.

Chartrand complimented Stefanson for “clearing the runway” for Manitoba Hydro to conclude the agreement after repeated, high-profile conflicts with her predecessor.

“We feel justice has prevailed,” Chartrand said.

“We feel justice has prevailed.”–David Chartrand

Details of the new agreement were not made public Thursday, but Chartrand said it addresses many issues — including past disputes over the Manitoba-Minnesota Transmission Line — and ensures the MMF will support Manitoba Hydro projects “on the premise that there’s no adverse effects to our people.”

“If it does, then we’ll come back to the table and we discuss our positions, but it doesn’t change the agreement,” he said. “Hydro was definitely open to being fair and equitable.”

In a release, Manitoba Hydro president Jay Grewal called the agreement an “important milestone.”

“While efforts to strengthen our relationships have been ongoing for some time, the signing of the “revitalization agreement” formally acknowledges our commitment to address the legacy of our historic projects with the Red River Métis,” Grewal said. “It’s a vital step forward in our long-term relationship with the MMF.”

Deputy Premier Cliff Cullen said he was glad to hear the two parties came to an agreement. The Spruce Woods MLA was Crown services minister in March 2018, when the initial tentative agreement was axed.

“We will always support economic reconciliation,” said Cullen, the minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro.

Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said the agreement appears to be a positive development for the MMF, but questioned whether it is substantially different from the tentative agreement tossed out by the Pallister administration.

“If so, then this is five years lost for Métis Manitobans — and First Nation communities across Manitoba are still waiting after decades of the near-total destruction of their communities and means of self-supporting by Hydro,” Lamont said.

“The Manitoba government allowed Hydro to operate on an interim licence for 50 years, and South Indian Lake, Cross Lake, Sagkeeng and many others are still waiting. They shouldn’t be.”

The Manitoba NDP was not immediately available to comment Thursday.

Chartrand said the MMF will purchase a sports camp to support the development of young Métis athletes as the first expense to be funded via the agreement.

“It will change people’s lives,” he said.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca