Tories use report to slam west Bipole route

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This article was published 26/5/2011 (3091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Opposition Progressive Conservatives today produced a 2005 Manitoba Hydro report that condemns the building of Bipole III transmission line down the west side of the province.

The internal report, in three parts, is the first indication from Manitoba Hydro that building bipole down the west side is fraught with risk, including blackouts and higher rates for Manitobans, Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen said.

The NDP under former Premier Gary Doer ordered Hydro to build down the west side, instead of Hydro's preferred route down the shorter east side of Lake Winnipeg, in late 2007.

The NDP stopped Hydro from building on the east side to protect its boreal forest for designation by the United Nations as a world heritage site.

McFadyen said in today's question period the leaked report shows the province has been sitting on the information for six years.

"Why are they sitting on the advice of the experts?" McFadyen said in the legislature.

McFadyen also said the report says going down the west side offers no environmental advantage over building down the east side, and increases reliabilty concerns of supplying electricity to domestic and export markets.

Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk said the proof the province made the right decision on Bipole III is Wednesday's announcement of Hydro selling a combined $4 billion worth of power to Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The export deal means Hydro will have to build the $5.6 billion Keeyask Dam in northern Manitoba.