The true cost of hydroelectric power
The July 15 Free Press article about the proposed Manitoba Hydro rate hikes of 3.5 per cent per year for the next 15 years (Hydro embarks on $7-billion overhaul of two main transmission lines) describes the need to increase rates in order to reliably serve customers and businesses. This news story focused on the equipment and infrastructure upgrades needed in the next couple decades, but there are factors besides the rates customers pay monthly that we also need to consider when we talk about Manitoba Hydro.
Hydroelectric power is touted as a 'green' renewable energy resource. This assertion fails to take into account the huge environmental impact of harnessing the energy of water. The infrastructure required to generate electricity in this way involves destruction and irreversible damage to our environment. It's time to evolve and expand our conversations about energy because, like so many things in our climate-changed world, there are no simple or easy solutions.
Our treaties promised Indigenous communities the ability to maintain their way of life. The destruction and devastation colonialism has inflicted upon Indigenous people is too great to list here in the level of detail that might do justice to the topic. But, here are a few well-documented examples related to Manitoba Hydro development specifically:
South Indian Lake experienced the destruction of their successful commercial fishery due to flooding and the erosion of the land. Land erosion is still happening here and elsewhere in the province due to the altered waterways. This erosion carries a steady stream of mercury into Manitoba's waters.
The Churchill River Diversion had a significant impact affecting hunting, fishing, trapping and sacred sites for the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.
At Cross Lake, water levels change unpredictably, resulting in dangerous ice conditions for community members including fatalities at Pimicikamak Cree Nation. The water freezes but then drops lower due to Manitoba Hydro operations, creating thin ice with a hollow drop below that an ATV or snowmobile might fall through.
Flooding at Grand Rapids in the 1960s resulted in the permanent displacement of entire communities, such as the relocation of the Chemawawin Cree Nation to Easterville. There are, in fact, no longer rapids at Grand Rapids due to this flood which was caused by the construction of the dam.
These are just a few of the consequences that have affected communities and individuals in hydro-affected regions. It has also been documented that social problems including sexual assaults go up when hydro construction projects enter a region.
Manitoba Hydro's footprint has left deep, lasting scars across northern and Indigenous communities. Ongoing effects include land erosion that contributes to surprisingly high carbon emissions. Additionally, the mercury entering the water from erosion may return to lower levels after three or four decades, but bio-accumulation in fish can remain at dangerously high levels for much longer than that.
If we plan to continue on this path for our energy needs we must mitigate these risks and compensate those who can no longer live safely and peacefully in their communities because of Manitoba Hydro. The relationships between Manitoba Hydro, affected communities, and the beneficiaries (consumers) of the utility's assets needs to continually improve. Manitoba Hydro now has policies, procedures, and agreements in place to try to mitigate environmental risks and consult with communities affected by hydro development. We need more of this, and we need relations beyond legal obligations. Still, many effects can never be reversed.
If we don't appreciate the real cost of the resources we are using now, we are only pushing bigger problems down to future generations.
Rate hikes have varied over the years and a 3.5 per cent increase is not unprecedented, but should this level of increase continue for 15 straight years, that will be a steep climb that will impact household budgets at a time when many of us are already feeling the squeeze of inflation across household expenses. Even with the proposed increases we will likely maintain lower rates than our neighbours in other provinces.
Manitoba Hydro also exports electricity outside of Manitoba. Premier Wab Kinew recently redirected 500 megawatts of electricity from the U.S. to Canadian markets by letting two U.S. contracts expire. Still, Manitoba Hydro will sell around 20-30 per cent of their output to the United States. Prices fluctuate with the market but, when possible, Manitoba Hydro should sell this resource at top dollar. I don't think any of us want to be subsidizing the energy use of our neighbours south of the border.
We benefit from Manitoba Hydro. As with so many facets of having settled here, we need to reflect on these benefits so we can find ways to live ethically and responsibly. This includes holding ourselves and our institutions accountable to promises made in treaty.
Manitoba Hydro is already known throughout the energy world for its innovation in transporting electricity long distances. With the right decisions we could also become known for innovation in sustainable development and Indigenous relations.
I would pay more to support good work we can be proud of.
Emilie St-Hilaire is a settler in Winnipeg.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Improving accessibility, ‘doing better' the focus, Fontaine says in wake of insensitive remarks caught on microphone
Manitoba's minister responsible for accessibility said Wednesday she's focusing on improving accessibility standards after remarks she made about a sign-language interpreter sparked criticism last month. Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine came under fire after her complaints about the placement of an American Sign Language interpreter at a graduation ceremony she was speaking at were caught on a 'hot mic' by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network June 26. Fontaine has apologized multiple times and committed to staff training. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Minister Nahanni Fontaine announces the 2025-26 Manitoba Accessibility Fund recipients at Sport Manitoba Wednesday. 'When I have these missteps or these mistakes or these moments, I always try to find the teaching and the lessons in it, and then how to move forward in a better way — how to do better,' Fontaine told reporters at a news conference Wednesday morning, announcing the recipients of this year's Manitoba Accessibility Fund. Fontaine, who was accompanied by a sign-language interpreter, said the province is working on hiring two additional ASL specialists. One will be present at any public event involving her department, she said. In the weeks since the incident, a deaf woman has also joined the Matriarch Circle, an advisory body of Indigenous women that consult with the provincial government, she said. The graduation-ceremony incident led to calls from the Opposition Progressive Conservatives to have Fontaine relieved of her accessibility responsibilities. Premier Wab Kinew has stood by her. Earlier this month, Fontaine said amendments to the Accessibility for Manitobans Act would be coming. She said Wednesday that the changes will include financial penalties as a 'last resort' for organizations refusing to implement accessibility standards. 'There are, in those rare, rare instances, (where) people are resistant to compliance, so the community has been asking for many years that there's some financial teeth behind them,' she said. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine speaks to the media, with an ASL translator, after announcing the 2025-26 Manitoba Accessibility Fund recipients at Sport Manitoba. In the wake of Fontaine's comments last month, reporters and others at APTN, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, found themselves blocked from Fontaine's social media. APTN was the first to report the comments. Fontaine refused to say who blocked the reporters, but said the move was reversed. 'I take full responsibility for my office and those folks are no longer blocked,' she said. Manitoba's Accessibility Fund grant program will distribute $820,000 across 33 organizations this year. Among them is Sport Manitoba — the site of Wednesday's announcement — which will receive $5,500 to create and deliver anti-ableism, disability awareness and accessible recreation training. 'Manitoba is privileged to have such a wide range of organizations whose purpose is to serve those within our accessible community,' said facility services manager Sarah Shotton. 'We very much look forward to working with some of these organizations to raise awareness about the vital role that we all play in supporting accessible sport experiences throughout Manitoba.' This year's Manitoba Accessibility Award, which recognizes organizations committed to support for people with disabilities, was presented to the Arts AccessAbility Network of Manitoba. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Arts AccessAbility Network of Manitoba executive director Jenel Shaw said the organization sees accessibility as 'the very foundation of artistic freedom.' Wednesdays Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. The organization has audited venues and theatres to remove barriers and it maintains an online database. Executive director Jenel Shaw said the organization sees accessibility as 'the very foundation of artistic freedom.' 'Disability for us is not a deficit, it's a perspective, a source of insight, beauty and innovation,' she said. 'When we talk about accessibility, we're not just talking about ramps, ASL or print labels, though all of those matter deeply. We're talking about cultural change, about building art spaces where disabled and deaf artists are not only included, but centred.' Malak AbasReporter Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg's North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak. Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Report raises questions about First Nations ownership in major projects
OTTAWA – A new think tank report is questioning how the federal and provincial governments' sprint to build major infrastructure projects might affect Indigenous Peoples' rights — and warns that it could end up pitting Indigenous communities against each other. The report by the Yellowhead Institute, 'Buried Burdens,' takes a look at major projects through a case study of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project and the Ksi Lisims facility in B.C., which are expected to transport millions of tonnes of gas per year. Owned in part by the Nisga'a Nation, the project has seen staunch opposition from other First Nations communities that did not approve or consent to it. The Yellowhead report, released this week, comes amid a countrywide push to rapidly launch major projects, including pipelines, to shore up the economy against U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war. The recently passed One Canadian Economy Act gives Ottawa the power to fast-track projects it deems to be in the national interest by sidestepping environmental protections and other legislation. Governments have been encouraging First Nations leaders to support such projects through loan guarantees and promises of financial incentives. But many First Nations leaders fear their ways of life could be irreparably harmed if governments evade environmental standards. 'Right now, the narrative is full speed ahead on resource development,' said Hayden King, a member of Beausoliel First Nation who serves as Yellowhead's executive director. 'Increasingly, that includes Indigenous partners, but there's not a lot of discussion on the dynamics of investing in projects like these, and there's a risk that has to be considered … 'First Nations are not necessarily the ones merely impacted by these developments, but they're being encouraged to invest in these projects, to be partners in these projects and grant social licence to enable these projects.' Some provinces have enacted laws similar to the One Canadian Economy Act, including Bill 5 in Ontario, now the subject of a court challenge by nine First Nations. And in B.C., Premier David Eby's government passed Bills 14 and 15 — pieces of legislation meant to ramp up energy and infrastructure development that have come under fire from First Nations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has frequently pointed to Indigenous participation in major projects as a means to ensure their success and prevent delays. He has pointed to the $10 billion Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program as proof of Ottawa's commitment to ensuring Indigenous communities have a meaningful stake. The report challenges that argument altogether, calling it an 'industry-driven narrative.' 'While there are potential benefits from participating in equity ownership when compared to shorter-term impact benefit agreements and service contracts, there are also greater risks,' the report says. 'This particular philosophy of 'economic reconciliation' imagines Indigenous communities regaining control of their economies, aiming for self-sufficiency, sustainability, and self-determination. This is an industry-driven narrative that presents resource extraction as the singular pathway to achieve these ends.' That narrative, the report says, could also cause rifts between Indigenous communities that support specific projects and those that do not. 'While uncomfortable, conflict and disagreement are part of Nation-to-Nation relationships — and always have been. However, it is equally important to recognize that in true Nation-to-Nation relationships, the self-determining rights of one Nation cannot supersede the inherent rights of another,' the report says. King said potential conflicts between pro-development communities and those more hesitant lends itself to conversations about the kinds of development that align with their values. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. But that conversation is also about rights, King said, and how courts will strike a balance among First Nations who don't see eye-to-eye on project proposals. 'Let's not have the courts decide the answers to those questions, but let's actually work through diplomacy and figure those out on our own terms, using our own Indigenous law,' he said. King said that discussion should 'feed back into the conversation about what kind of economy … we want,' pointing to the pre-contact economies that once sustained Indigenous Peoples. 'We had these economies, and still do to a degree. So what would it look like to reimagine those, and rearticulate them in the face of the narrative that we only have one option, which is resource development?' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.
3 hours ago
Prime Minister Mark Carney visits his hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T.
Headlines Latest News Podcasts (new window) Home Politics Federal Politics Prime minister will visit Inuvik later in the evening to meet with Inuit leaders Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with Fort Smith, N.W.T. residents on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. Photo: CBC / Carla Ulrich Prime Minister Mark Carney visited his hometown of Fort Smith, N.W.T., on Wednesday — his first official visit to the territory since he was elected. Carney, along with N.W.T. MP and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Premier R.J. Simpson met with local families Wednesday morning in Fort Smith to discuss affordability challenges and food insecurity. Carney visited the community recreation centre where he made smoothies with staff and kids attending summer camp. Carney and Alty also stopped in at Berro's Pizza, where they ordered a carnivore pizza, renamed the Carneyvore by the restaurant. Enlarge image (new window) Prime Minister Mark Carney and N.W.T. MP Rebecca Alty order the "Carneyvore" pizza at Berro's pizza. Photo: CBC / Carla Ulrich Carney also met with parents in Fort Smith after a private discussion with Premier Simpson. He is also scheduled to meet with local leaders there about the impact of wildfires in the N.W.T. Though this wildfire season has been relatively calm so far, the territory has been hit hard by fires in recent years, including the evacuation of Fort Smith, Hay River and Yellowknife (new window) in 2023. Carney was born in Fort Smith and lived in the southern N.W.T. town until his family moved south when he was about six years old. He will be in Inuvik on Wednesday evening, where he will visit the local community centre and meet with Natan Obed, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Duane Smith, the chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. Enlarge image (new window) Fort Smith residents greeted Carney outside of the community recreation centre holding a sign expressing opposition to Bill C-5, the government's major projects legislation. Photo: CBC / Carla Ulrich He's expected to discuss Bill C-5, the federal government's major projects legislation (new window) . The federal government said it would hold a series of summits over the summer with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to discuss the Building Canada Act, which gives the government the power to fast-track projects and bypass certain laws, government regulations and environmental assessments if an industry project is deemed in the national interest. The legislation has been controversial, with many First Nations groups (new window) saying it is a violation of their treaties and constitutional rights. Enlarge image (new window) N.W.T. Premier R.J. Simpson, left, and Prime Minister Mark Carney, make smoothies with kids attending a summer camp in Fort Smith, N.W.T. Photo: CBC / Carla Ulrich Corrections A previous version of this story on the CBC News website (new window) incorrectly idenfified when the prime minister would be meeting Inuit leaders in Inuvik. In fact, it will be on Wednesday evening. Jul 23, 2025 12:06 AM EDT With files from Carla Ulrich and The Canadian Press Beginning of list of 13 items. Skip list? Wednesday, July 23 Tuesday, July 22 End of list of 13 items. Back to beginning of list? Parks Canada rescinded approval of permit due to 'evolving safety and security considerations' Johnny Noviello was diagnosed with a seizure disorder in May 45 minutes ago U.S. Politics 'Clean, healthy and sustainable environment' is a human right, International Court of Justice says 54 minutes ago Climate Change Provincial and territorial leaders call on government to introduce bail reform bill 1 hour ago Provincial Politics There have been 17 police-related deaths in Nunavik since 2017, according to Quebec police watchdog 3 hours ago Law Enforcement Agencies
