The Long Line Bringing Light

By David McPherson

The numbers tell the tale of this inspiring infrastructure success story three decades in the making: 17 remote communities, 24 First Nations, 26,000 people, 1,800 kilometres, 22 substations—resulting in a $2 billion dollar Indigenous-owned transmission company. That’s the Wataynikaneyap (Watay) Power Transmission Project in a nutshell.

More than 30 years since it was first identified that finding a reliable clean and sustainable energy solution to replace an unreliable and dirty diesel-powered generator system in the north was a crucial issue, 16 of the 17 remote First Nations’ assets are energized. The Watay Power Project is the largest Indigenous-led and longest grid connection project in Ontario history.

“Ontario needs to generate, store, and transmit more power as we face unprecedented growth,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification, last fall during the connection to the grid of Sachigo Lake First Nation. “It is a priority for our government to expand and connect clean and affordable energy to some of the most remote northern communities, helping improve the quality of life of First Nation communities as we work to displace all diesel generators with clean electricity.”

No. 46 on ReNew Canada’s 2024 Top100 Projects Report, the Watay Power Project sets a precedent—and provides a model for future partnerships—of how public and private funding can work, collaborate and pool resources to invest in the growth and socio-economic development of Indigenous communities. The Ontario Government supported the construction of the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project through a loan of up to $1.34 billion for the project’s construction costs. Wataynikaneyap means “line that brings light” in Anishiniiniimowin and was named by the Elders who provided guidance throughout the project. This essential line that brings light not only connects these geographically disparate First Nations’ communities, but it also enables these remote residents greater autonomy—and more opportunities—now and in the future.

Getting on the grid

First, the backstory, on the how and the why behind Watay Power and what led to this long overdue Indigenous-owned transmission line that is lighting the way forward in Northern Ontario. These communities are considered remote because most do not have all-season road access and/or they were not connected to the Independent Electricity System Operator-controlled grid. Some of the most remote of these communities like Sandy Lake First Nation and Big Trout Lake First Nation—both 600 km north of Thunder Bay near the Manitoba border—have no all-season roads. Access by air to these First Nations settlements is the only way in most of the year or by an ice road during the short winter season, so just delivering and transporting the fuel oil that powered the generators was a challenge; accidental spills could occur causing environmental damage. The Wataynikaneyap Power Project is expected to result in over 6.6 million tonnes of avoided GHG emissions over 40 years by replacing approximately 25 million litres/year of diesel usage with electricity.

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Daily outages were also a common occurrence. Combine these failings with not having sufficient power, due to load growth restrictions, and essential resources like food security and technology availability were affected hindering further economic development of these communities due to this lack of power to spur growth.

“Our communities were at a crossroads,” explains Margaret Kenequanash, CEO, Wataynikaneyap Power. “These old generators were at capacity and so these communities were at a standstill and could not make further infrastructure improvements without a reliable power source through connection to the provincial grid.”

Kenequanash has spent her life in public service. In 1996, she was elected the first female chief in her community, North Caribou Lake First Nation, and became the CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power in August 2017. She has made it her life mission to better the lives and provide more opportunities for First Nations peoples.

Conversations surrounding what a sustainable solution might look like—and how to connect these geographically spread-out communities began as far back as the 1990s, when a group of First Nations chiefs started to dream of a transmission line to connect their communities to a clean and reliable source of power. But it was not until 2008 when these private conversations and dreams transformed into an actual strategic plan. That is when the Central Corridor Energy Group was given a mandate to plan and develop an electrical transmission line owned by the First Nations to connect 10 communities to the provincial electricity grid. Environmental assessment work took close to five years to complete. In the interim, ongoing engagement continued with all of the communities. As early as 2013, the provincial government acknowledged, “Connecting the remote communities is a priority.” Wataynikaneyap Power (established in 2012) received its transmission license from the Ontario Energy Board three years later. In 2016, Wataynikaneyap Power was selected to carry out this massive infrastructure project, which by 2019 had been expanded to a partnership between 24 First Nations; the average distance separating these communities is 60 kilometres.

Wataynikaneyap (Watay) Power, a First Nations-led company made up of 24 Indigenous communities, built the Watay Power Transmission Project, which is the largest Indigenous-led and lengthiest grid connection project in Ontario’s history. (Wataynikaneyap Power)

The road to First Nations ownership 

Watay Power selected Fortis Inc. over seven other suppliers because the Canadian-owned utility company, which started out more than a century ago as The St. John’s Electric Light Company in Newfoudland’s capital, was the only utility that shared in the long-term vision that the First Nations communities would maintain majority ownership throughout, and eventually own 100 per cent of Watay Power.

“We will be forever grateful that Fortis enabled and supported our people’s vision of ownership,” says Kenequanash.

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The first step, in 2015, on the road to this Indigenous-majority ownership model, was creating a licensed transmission company—First Nation Limited Partnership (FNLP)—with each of the 24 Northwestern Ontario First Nations partners owned equal shares. Currently, FNLP owns 51 per cent and Fortis owns 49 per cent.

“This was an incredible collaborative model that included financial backing from both the provincial and federal government, along with loans secured by all five of Canada’s biggest banks,” says Gary Smith, executive vice-president, Operations and Innovation, Fortis Inc. “It was a true partnership and one of the greatest projects I’ve been fortunate to work on in my career. No one worked in isolation. There was constant information sharing and engagement between the 24 First Nations and Fortis throughout.

“Every voice was equal,” Smith adds. “Every First Nations’ Chief had an equal vote so there were not a lot of delays and decisions were arrived at relatively quickly. When I travel up north today I’m already seeing all the positive effects on these communities like new homes and schools being built thanks to the big enabler of electricity.”

Before construction started, conversations were held with hundreds of the landkeepers to ensure the transmission corridor respected the animals and the environment. Construction on the first section of the project (the 117-km line to Pikangikum First Nation) was completed and energized on December 20, 2018. By 2019, the partnership had expanded to 24 First Nations and project financing was secured. Then March 11, 2020, arrived. The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus; a decision was needed on whether to halt construction of the transmission line; so, in a safe manner, by following all the government-mandated COVID-19 protocols, the Watay Power project continued.

Thanks to this decision to not pause construction during the pandemic, Phase 1 of this $2 billion capital investment—an equal partnership by these 24 First Nations, along with Fortis Inc. and private investors—was completed in August 2022 with the 230 kV upgrade of the Transmission line from Dinorwic to Pickle Lake. In May 2024, Phase 2 followed. The grid expanded north of Pickle Lake and Red Lake powering northern Ontario’s most remote communities on the grid.

The 1,800-kilometre Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project connected 26,000 people in 17 remote Indigenous communities. (David Howells/Fortis Inc.)

Em-Powering First Nations people

The Wataynikaneyap Power transmission project is about much more than providing a reliable and sustainable power source to these remote communities; it’s about giving future opportunities and renewed hope for the next generation of these First Nations peoples who call these communities home.

This partnership between the First Nations and Fortis Inc. is a powerful investment not just in infrastructure, but also in the people. The connection to the provincial power grid now lights the way for future generations—allowing them to stay and work in their communities. Replacing these diesel-generators with a more reliable energy source, the 1,800 km electrical system also accelerates and drives further infrastructure investment. Since Watay Power came on the grid, at least five schools have been energized. Sandy Lake First Nation constructed a new health centre and Wunnumin Lake First Nation built 25 new housing units. Deer Lake First Nation installed a refrigeration system in its arena and North Caribou Lake First Nation built a police station. Connecting to the provincial grid also helps address other critical issues faced in these isolated northern First Nations communities like water quality and food and housing shortages. This is just the beginning.

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With construction complete, Watay Power’s focus now shifts to operations, maintenance, and beginning the transfer of knowledge to the local communities and 24 First Nations, who, within 25 years, will 100 per cent own and operate the transmission line.

As the conversation closes, Kenequanash gazes at the map of Northern Ontario on the wall of her office. It highlights the 1,800 km transmission line and the 17 remote communities’ part of the Wataynikaneyap Power Project. The executive smiles, reflecting on this decades-in-the-making dream come true and its lasting impact.

“Sometimes, when I’m doing my daily work, I don’t think of this as such a huge project, but then I look at that map and I’m just like, ‘Wow!’”

The CEO stresses that it’s taken a lot of communication, education, and a ton of engagement by the 24 First Nations leaders to the members in each of their communities to accomplish this huge achievement. And, that engagement is far from over as she still visits these communities to convince them of what this new power source means to them and to their children and grandchildren’s future.

“Our Elders also played an important role,” she adds. “We consulted them, and they guided us throughout the project. One of the things we hope to have accomplished with this transmission system is ensuring our people have safe drinking water, homes powered by a reliable energy source and the ability to improve infrastructure to further develop their communities for future generations to enjoy.”

David McPherson is the author of  The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History, Massey Hall, and 101 Fascinating Canadian Music Facts. He is also the president of McPherson Communications, based in Waterloo, Ont.

[This article appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of ReNew Canada.]

Feature image: Construction of the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission project’s Line Deer Lake Switching Station. (David Howells/Fortis Inc.)

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