The premiers of Manitoba and Nunavut are hopeful a proposed hydroelectric and fibre optic venture is transferring nearer to fruition and are in search of federal cash.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok have signed a memorandum to work collectively on the venture and ask Ottawa for capital funding.
The proposed Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Hyperlink would see a 1,200-kilometre line constructed by northern Manitoba to a number of Nunavut communities west of Hudson Bay that at the moment use diesel to generate electrical energy.
It has been talked about for years and a latest estimate put the associated fee at $1.6 billion.
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Manitoba introduced this week it will dedicate 50 megawatts from its Crown power company to the venture, which Kinew says is just a begin.
Kinew and Akeeagok met on the Manitoba legislature and mentioned, given the present commerce dispute with the US, there may be urge for food for nation-building initiatives and efforts to construct up the North.
“By way of the worth tag, these are issues we’ll kind out after they come to the desk, which I’m positive they are going to,” Kinew informed reporters Wednesday.
“We want Ottawa to have the ability to come to website with us as properly,” Akeeagok added.
“All of the political leaders up to now have recognized that there’s going to be important investments come to corridors or nation-building initiatives, and we actually see this one aligning very well.”
Neither premier would say what degree of funding they’re in search of from the federal authorities.
Ottawa has already put up cash for early levels of the venture. Final 12 months, it introduced $2.8 million for design, environmental fieldwork and different duties.
The venture, put ahead by the Inuit-owned Nukik Corp., may see building start as early as 2028. Other than communities in Nunavut, it may additionally provide mines within the area and spur extra financial growth, backers say.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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