Hydro allowed to work directly with Indigenous groups

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This article was published 01/11/2023 (884 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Tory-era directive blocking Manitoba Hydro from signing agreements with Indigenous communities without prior ministerial review has been rescinded by the NDP government.

The provincial order dating back to the tenure of former premier Brian Pallister was tossed on Tuesday, Premier Wab Kinew said.

Kinew told the Keewatin Tribal Council’s general assembly scrapping the directive was part of his government’s plan to shift the direction of the utility.

“So, this is a significant message to the corporation that they need to dramatically improve the way that they engage with Indigenous nations across Manitoba,” Kinew told the meeting of northern First Nations leaders, many of whom come from communities impacted by hydro-electric development.

The directive was issued March 21, 2018 — the same day nearly all of Manitoba Hydro’s board members resigned, citing an inability to have meaningful dialogue with the Progressive Conservative government on critical issues related to finances and governance.

At the time, Pallister said the government’s decision to cancel a $70 million compensation agreement between Hydro and the Manitoba Métis Federation over the proposed Manitoba-Minnesota transmission line was the reason for the resignations.

On top of vetoing the deal, Hydro was also ordered to get cabinet review before signing relationship and community benefit agreements with Indigenous groups, including renewals and amendments of existing arrangements.

NDP Finance Minister Adrien Sala said rescinding the order will open the door for direct conversations between Hydro and Indigenous communities that he hopes will lead to more collaboration.

“We think it’s really important that First Nations can deal directly with Manitoba Hydro,” Sala said in an interview Wednesday afternoon.

“We know since the last government put that directive in place, First Nations communities have been frustrated in trying to have those conversations.”

Asked if the directive has prevented Hydro from entering into new arrangements with Indigenous communities, Sala said he could not speak to specifics.

“But I can assume that there are a lot of important conversations that haven’t happened over the last many years because of that directive,” he said.

On Wednesday, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak — a political advocacy group representing 26 northern First Nations — declined to comment on the policy change and said a statement would be issued later this week.

Manitoba Hydro did not make anyone available for an interview Wednesday.

In a statement, spokesman Bruce Owen said the Crown corporation is pleased to “continue to work towards reconciliation in alignment with government policies and direction.”

“We will not comment on the status of any ongoing discussions with the communities we work with.”

Manitobans can expect the NDP government’s approach to Manitoba Hydro will look different from that of the former Tory administration, Sala said.

A new mandate for the Crown corporation is being drafted, he added.

“The premier has been clear about what he sees as the big opportunities with Manitoba Hydro — those are to improve affordability for Manitobans and to help develop our clean energy economy,” Sala said.

Any potential changes to Hydro’s board of directors will be made after a period of due diligence, Sala said.

“A really key concern for us is ensuring that we get any decisions about board changes right at Manitoba Hydro,” Sala said.

“We are working through that decision now and I assume that we’ll see our recommendations on that in the months to come.”

The Opposition PCs declined to comment Wednesday.

In one of their final acts before a pre-election blackout on government announcements in August, the Tories signed off on a $120 million deal between Hydro and the MMF to lock in support for existing and future developments.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca