Wataynikaneyap Power Project Connects First Nations to Grid

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/02/25

Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) works collaboratively with partners to improve access to high quality services for First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is committed to improving the quality of life of Canadians by ensuring the country’s abundant natural resources are developed sustainably, competitively and inclusively. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is committed to protecting and conserving our natural heritage, predicting weather and environmental conditions, preventing and managing pollution, promoting clean growth and a sustainable environment for present and future generations. The Wataynikaneyap Power project is a transformative, Indigenous-led initiative connecting 16 First Nations, including Poplar Hill First Nation, to the Ontario power grid. This shift from diesel-generated electricity improves reliability, economic opportunities, and environmental sustainability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel spill risks. Indigenous leadership plays a crucial role, with 24 First Nations owning 51% of the project, aiming for full ownership. The initiative fosters capacity building, infrastructure growth, and long-term self-reliance. Government funding and partnerships have been key to success, ensuring cleaner, safer, and more sustainable energy for remote communities.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How will connecting to the Ontario power grid improve daily life and opportunities for Poplar Hill First Nation?

Jennifer Cooper for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC): Access to reliable electricity is key to an improved quality of life for First Nation communities in Ontario, which includes Poplar Hill First Nation. Providing reliable energy to the First Nation enables better access to essential services and will improve the local environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and diesel fuel spills.

Connection to the provincial power grid leads the way to new economic and employment opportunities for Poplar Hill First Nation powered by safe, clean and reliable energy.

For more information about the benefits of this project, please visit the Wataynikaneyap Power webpage.

Jacobsen: What challenges did the transition from diesel-generated electricity to a grid-connected system create?Cooper (ISC): As the project lead, Wataynikaneyap Power is best positioned to discuss the challenges as First Nations transitioned away from diesel generation towards grid connection for their communities.

Please visit the Natural Resources Canada website for information on the challenges of powering Canada’s off-grid communities.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): Poplar Hill First Nation is an Independent Power Authority community; however, the grid connection through the Wataynikaneyap Transmission Project means that the community will now be serviced by Hydro One Remote Communities Inc. for the community’s local distribution of electricity. As articulated by the CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power LP, this affects the community’s desire for ownership, capacity building, and self-reliance in power distribution, and necessitates that, moving forward, the community complete all documentation in line with Hydro One’s requirements (source).

In general, transitioning away from diesel-generated electricity to a grid connected system requires coordinating multiple stakeholders over many years, as well as significant capital investments. There can be additional costs and technical challenges due to remoteness. In their report National Indigenous Electrification Strategy: Strategy to Accelerate Indigenous Ownership of Net Zero Infrastructure in Canada, the First Nations Major Projects Coalition outlines that access to competitively priced capital is often the main challenge for Indigenous ownership of clean energy infrastructure.

Jacobsen: How has Indigenous leadership influenced execution of the Wataynikaneyap Power project?

Cooper (ISC): The Wataynikaneyap Power project is the largest and most far-reaching Indigenous-led transmission project in Ontario’s history. Wataynikaneyap Power is majority owned by 24 First Nation communities and has played a critical role in leading this project. CEO Margaret Kenequanash has demonstrated leadership on this project for many years and her commitment to a better quality of life for First Nation people right across the vast Northern reaches of the province. The Wataynikaneyap Power project represents an Indigenous-led solution to longstanding infrastructure challenges.

Jacobsen: How does reduction of greenhouse gas emissions contribute to environmental and community health objectives?

Cooper (ISC): Greenhouse gas emission reduction aligns with Indigenous values offering holistic benefits that bridge ecological health, cultural vitality, and social justice.

Reliable electrical power is essential for the health, safety, and growth of First Nations communities. For too long, communities faced significant challenges due to reliance on diesel generation, which strained their quality of life and limited opportunities for housing, infrastructure, and development. Connecting to the power grid is transforming First Nation communities, enabling sustainable growth, and improving overall well-being. This partnership, reflected in the Wataynikaneyap Power project has been critical in making this transmission system for First Nations a reality, creating lasting benefits for the communities it serves.

For more information, we recommend that you reach out to First Nation communities to seek Indigenous voices directly for a more accurate and respectful representation of their views.

Jacobsen: How do traditional knowledge and values shape this clean energy initiative?

Cooper (ISC): Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) recognizes that Indigenous traditions and knowledge systems are sources of strength, wisdom and guidance. To learn more about how ISC recognizes and respects the deep knowledge and practices held by Indigenous communities, please consult Indigenous Services Canada: Strategic Plan 2020 to 2025.

To learn about the partnerships that guided the Wataynikaneyap Power project, please contact ‍watayinquiries@wataypower.ca or visit Wataynikaneyap Power for more information. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC): As the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect First Nations communities, reducing emissions can contribute to First Nations’ community health objectives. The legacies of colonization and First Nations’ unique relationship with the land, waters, and ice are factors that compound the effects of climate change, leading to intensified negative cultural, social, and economic impacts for Indigenous Peoples that directly compromise their health and wellbeing. These impacts can be substantially reduced by cutting emissions and pollution.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution can have positive effects on human health. Improving water and air quality and reducing chronic illnesses are some of the most known health-related co-benefits of reducing emissions. Mitigating climate change can also help reduce impacts of temperature increases on humans, such as heart stroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. The impacts of extreme weather events can cause death, injury and increase mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

By investing in clean energy, communities can take concrete action to address the causes of climate change.

Jacobsen: How do partnerships with federal agencies and other stakeholders help the project succeed?

Cooper (ISC): Partnerships on the Indigenous-led Wataynikaneyap Power project, including with the Ontario and Canadian governments, have been crucial to the development and building of the transmission system, and enabled regulatory efficiencies, reduced delays and compliance issues, allowed for shared essential resources like funding, technical expertise and knowledge, and distributed responsibilities and risks.

The Government of Canada supported the project with $1.6 billion in federal funding, announced in March 2018, to connect 16 First Nations to the provincial power grid. Ontario will also apply existing ratepayer subsidies to support transmission connection and distribution costs.

The project is providing clean, safe and reliable energy to 15,000 people. Wataynikaneyap Power also estimates that the project has resulted in more than 750 jobs for First Nations.

First Nations are at the forefront of working toward a cleaner environment that will promote the health and safety of community members. Strong partnerships between First Nations and the Government of Canada are a key element of this commitment to foster the growth of Indigenous communities. 

To learn about the partnerships that guided the Wataynikaneyap Power project, please contact, ‍watayinquiries@wataypower.ca or visit Wataynikaneyap Power for more information. 

Jacobsen: What are the main lessons from these experiences that might guide similar energy projects in other remote First Nation communities?

Cooper (ISC): As the lead of the Wataynikaneyap Power project, they are in a better position to discuss some of the learned experiences. You can reach out to ‍‍watayinquiries@wataypower.ca for more information.

Jacobsen: How will access to clean and reliable power support remote communities’ long-term self-reliance?

Cooper (ISC): Reliable power is essential for the health, safety, and growth of First Nations communities. Connecting to the power grid is transforming First Nation communities, enabling sustainable growth and improving overall well-being. Thousands of people living in remote First Nations communities are experiencing much higher quality of life as a result of being connected to the grid.

All communities need access to energy that is clean and reliable. By investing in Indigenous-led solutions to long standing infrastructure challenges, the Government of Canada plays an important role to support companies like Wataynikaneyap Power on their Power Transmission Project that will support remote First Nations to power themselves and reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to diesel energy production.

Connecting 16 diesel-dependent First Nations to Ontario’s power grid will provide these communities with clean, safe and reliable energy that will have a significant effect on the health and safety of community members and also expand infrastructure and economic opportunities.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): 

• Indigenous ownership: The Wataynikaneyap Transmission Project is the largest Indigenous-owned and led energy infrastructure project in Canada. Wataynikaneyap Power LP is 51% owned by 24 First Nations, through an entity called the 24 First Nations Limited Partnership (FNLP). The FNLP intends to eventually increase its 51% ownership share to 100%. Project ownership results in positive economic benefits such as local jobs from construction and long-term revenue generation.
• Capacity building: FNLP has 100% ownership of Opiikapawiin Services Limited Partnership (OSLP). OSLP is primarily responsible for administering projects and programs for Wataynikaneyap Power relating to community engagement, education and training, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building. Through OSLP, the communities participating in the transmission project can develop the skills and training required to successfully commission and operate the project.
• Avoided cost of diesel: Access to clean and reliable power supports self-reliance by eliminating the dependence on diesel fuel as the main source of electricity. Based on financial analysis conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) on behalf of Wataynikaneyap, compared to diesel use, grid connection will result in $1.15 billion in net present value savings over 40 years of operation for 16 communities involved.

• Diesel fuel needs to be transported over long distances and stored locally. Remoteness and the potential for extreme climate conditions result in higher transportation costs, in addition to environmental risks (e.g. spills).
• Fuel prices fluctuate with global market conditions, which can add uncertainty and additional cost to the communities.

• Increased energy security: Grid connection will also increase the availability and quality of electricity compared to diesel generators that have limited generation capacity and lead to load restrictions. With a more abundant source of electricity, communities can pursue economic activities that would not have been possible under load restrictions, such as building new schools and health care centers, electrification, and supporting larger scale industries/businesses for the community.
• For additional information on socio-economic benefits, please see: Economy – Watay Power.

Jacobsen: Thank you all for the opportunity and your time.

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