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
Global News
19 minutes ago
- Global News
Canada's premiers set for 3-day meeting in Ontario with trade top of mind
Tariffs and trade are top of the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations. The premiers' summer gathering in Muskoka will also feature a Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as trade talks with the United States are expected to intensify. Most of what the premiers are likely to discuss stems from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs: trade negotiations, the direct impact on industries such as steel and aluminum, the increased pushes to remove interprovincial trade barriers and speed up major infrastructure and natural resource projects to counteract the effects of tariffs, as well as Indigenous communities' concerns about them. 1:07 Canada 'pretty difficult to deal with,' White House says as trade agreement deadline looms Day 1 of the premiers' meeting involves discussions with Indigenous leaders including the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and the Native Women's Association of Canada. Story continues below advertisement Carney himself is fresh off a meeting with hundreds of First Nations chiefs, many of whom have expressed concerns about their rights being sidelined as the prime minister looks to accelerate projects in the 'national interest.' Some of the top priorities premiers are pushing include pipelines and mining in Ontario's Ring of Fire region, and chiefs have said that must not happen by governments skirting their duty to consult. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has served for the past year as head of the Council of the Federation, is host of the meeting and said in a statement that protecting national interests will be top of mind. 'This meeting will be an opportunity to work together on how to respond to President Trump's latest threat and how we can unleash the full potential of Canada's economy,' Ford wrote. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Trump and Carney agreed in June at the G7 summit to try and reach a trade deal by July 21 but Trump recently moved that deadline to Aug. 1, while telling Carney he intends to impose 35 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canada that same day. 5:51 Carney doubles down with counter tariffs Carney has said Canada is trying to get an agreement on softwood lumber exports included in the negotiations with the United States. Story continues below advertisement British Columbia Premier David Eby said he intends to raise the issue and others of particular importance to B.C. at the meeting. '(We want to) get access to the same level of attention, for example, on the softwood lumber as Ontario gets on the auto parts sector, (and) that we get the same amount of attention on capital projects as Alberta is currently getting in relation to their proposals,' Eby said last week in Victoria. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been making a big push for new pipelines, but said during a press conference Friday that her focus would also be on premiers working together to address the tariff threat, including interprovincial trade. 'I was really pleased to sign (a memorandum of understanding) with Doug Ford during the time he was here in during Stampede, and other provinces are working on those same kind of collaborative agreements,' she said. 'We need to do more to trade with each other, and I hope that that's the spirit of the discussion.' Smith and Ford signed an MOU earlier this month to study new pipelines and rail lines between provinces, and both premiers also talked about wanting Carney to repeal a number of energy regulations like net-zero targets, the West Coast tanker ban and a proposed emissions cap. Ford has also taken a lead role on increasing interprovincial trade, signing MOUs with several provinces and enacting a law to remove all of Ontario's exceptions to free trade between the provinces and territories. Story continues below advertisement 6:11 Mapping Canada's strategy to combat U.S. tariffs Nova Scotia's Tim Houston is another premier banging the drum of interprovincial trade, saying the trade war is forcing action on it. 'We're seeing the benefit of working together to respond to economic threats from the U.S. by breaking down internal trade barriers and opportunities to expand in other international markets,' he wrote in a statement. Ford has said the premiers will also talk about emergency management, energy security, sovereignty and national security, health, and public safety. The premiers have also been pushing the federal government to reform bail laws and Carney said last week that legislation will be introduced in the fall and he expects to discuss the issue with the premiers on Tuesday. The premiers' summer meeting also signals a changing of the guard, with the role of chair of Council of the Federation moving between provinces annually. Story continues below advertisement 0:52 Mexico, Canada coordinate as Trump warns of new USMCA tariffs But after Ford is no longer chair, he's not expected to take too much of a back seat on all of the aforementioned issues. He is still premier of the most populous province, has built a strong relationship with Carney, often singing the prime minister's praises, and has done frequent American TV interviews making the case for increased trade over tariffs. Those network appearances, in part, earned him a nickname of 'Captain Canada' — a persona he used to massive political benefit. Ford made the fight against tariffs and Trump the central part of his re-election campaign and voters returned him to government with a third consecutive majority.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Trade top of mind as Canada's premiers are set to hold three-day meeting in Ontario
TORONTO – Tariffs and trade are top of the agenda as the country's premiers arrive in Ontario's cottage country for a three-day meeting that comes at a pivotal time for both Canada-U.S. and domestic relations. The premiers' summer gathering in Muskoka will also feature a Tuesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, as trade talks with the United States are expected to intensify. Most of what the premiers are likely to discuss stems from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs: trade negotiations, the direct impact on industries such as steel and aluminum, the increased pushes to remove interprovincial trade barriers and speed up major infrastructure and natural resource projects to counteract the effects of tariffs, as well as Indigenous communities' concerns about them. Day 1 of the premiers' meeting involves discussions with Indigenous leaders including the Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council and the Native Women's Association of Canada. Carney himself is fresh off a meeting with hundreds of First Nations chiefs, many of whom have expressed concerns about their rights being sidelined as the prime minister looks to accelerate projects in the 'national interest.' Some of the top priorities premiers are pushing include pipelines and mining in Ontario's Ring of Fire region, and chiefs have said that must not happen by governments skirting their duty to consult. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has served for the past year as head of the Council of the Federation, is host of the meeting and said in a statement that protecting national interests will be top of mind. 'This meeting will be an opportunity to work together on how to respond to President Trump's latest threat and how we can unleash the full potential of Canada's economy,' Ford wrote. Trump and Carney agreed in June at the G7 summit to try and reach a trade deal by July 21 but Trump recently moved that deadline to Aug. 1, while telling Carney he intends to impose 35 per cent across-the-board tariffs on Canada that same day. Carney has said Canada is trying to get an agreement on softwood lumber exports included in the negotiations with the United States. British Columbia Premier David Eby said he intends to raise the issue and others of particular importance to B.C. at the meeting. '(We want to) get access to the same level of attention, for example, on the softwood lumber as Ontario gets on the auto parts sector, (and) that we get the same amount of attention on capital projects as Alberta is currently getting in relation to their proposals,' Eby said last week in Victoria. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has been making a big push for new pipelines, but said during a press conference Friday that her focus would also be on premiers working together to address the tariff threat, including interprovincial trade. 'I was really pleased to sign (a memorandum of understanding) with Doug Ford during the time he was here in during Stampede, and other provinces are working on those same kind of collaborative agreements,' she said. 'We need to do more to trade with each other, and I hope that that's the spirit of the discussion.' Smith and Ford signed an MOU earlier this month to study new pipelines and rail lines between provinces, and both premiers also talked about wanting Carney to repeal a number of energy regulations like net-zero targets, the West Coast tanker ban and a proposed emissions cap. Ford has also taken a lead role on increasing interprovincial trade, signing MOUs with several provinces and enacting a law to remove all of Ontario's exceptions to free trade between the provinces and territories. Nova Scotia's Tim Houston is another premier banging the drum of interprovincial trade, saying the trade war is forcing action on it. 'We're seeing the benefit of working together to respond to economic threats from the U.S. by breaking down internal trade barriers and opportunities to expand in other international markets,' he wrote in a statement. Ford has said the premiers will also talk about emergency management, energy security, sovereignty and national security, health, and public safety. The premiers have also been pushing the federal government to reform bail laws and Carney said last week that legislation will be introduced in the fall and he expects to discuss the issue with the premiers on Tuesday. The premiers' summer meeting also signals a changing of the guard, with the role of chair of Council of the Federation moving between provinces annually. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. But after Ford is no longer chair, he's not expected to take too much of a back seat on all of the aforementioned issues. He is still premier of the most populous province, has built a strong relationship with Carney, often singing the prime minister's praises, and has done frequent American TV interviews making the case for increased trade over tariffs. Those network appearances, in part, earned him a nickname of 'Captain Canada' — a persona he used to massive political benefit. Ford made the fight against tariffs and Trump the central part of his re-election campaign and voters returned him to government with a third consecutive majority. — With files from Wolfgang Depner in Victoria, Keith Doucette in Halifax and Lisa Johnson in Edmonton This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2025.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Carney to hold talks with Inuit leaders on major projects bill in N.W.T. next week
Prime Minister Mark Carney will be in Inuvik, N.W.T., on July 24 to continue talks with Indigenous groups on the government's major projects bill. Carney will co-host the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee with Natan Obed, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president. The meeting will cover a range of issues according to the Prime Minister's Office, including how the Building Canada Act can be implemented consistent with Inuit land claims agreements and in partnership with Inuit. The Building Canada Act gives the government the ability to fast-track projects that are deemed to be in the national interest by sidestepping some review requirements under a host of federal laws. Carney hosted a meeting with hundreds of First Nations chiefs in Gatineau, Que. Thursday in the first of three meetings with Indigenous groups. Some chiefs walked out of the meeting of the summit saying they saw an insufficient response to concerns they'd been raising for weeks, while others left the meeting "cautiously optimistic." Before travelling to Inuvik, the prime minister will also briefly visit Fort Smith, the town in the Northwest Territories where he was born and spent his early childhood.
