First Nations Leaders Criticize Hydro for Shifting Blame in Devastating Outage
First Nations leaders are condemning Manitoba Hydro for its handling of a significant power outage that impacted the Pimicikamak Cree Nation. The Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) has criticized the Crown corporation for attempting to shift blame regarding the cause of the outage, which lasted several days.
Details of the Outage
The power outage began on December 28 and persisted for four days, causing severe issues, including frozen and burst pipes in local homes. It forced over 4,000 residents to evacuate their properties. The incident raised alarms, prompting intervention from the Canadian Armed Forces to restore essential services like water treatment and sewage management.
Accusations of Misinformation
MKO expressed strong disapproval after Manitoba Hydro suggested that a shotgun pellet found in one of its transmission lines might be a contributing factor to the outage. Garrison Settee, the Grand Chief of MKO, described this shift in narrative as “misleading” and “a blatant attempt to distract from Hydro’s own failures.”
Calls for Accountability
- Garrison Settee has requested a meeting with key stakeholders, including Finance Minister Adrien Sala and Manitoba Hydro’s board chair, Jamie Wilson.
- Settee emphasized the disrespect shown to the affected communities and pointed to a disturbing disregard for their well-being.
In a subsequent statement, Sala indicated that efforts were underway to arrange a meeting involving Hydro’s leadership and community representatives to discuss the fallout from the outage.
Manitoba Hydro’s Response
Hydro’s spokesperson, Peter Chura, defended the corporation’s actions, stating that the company’s recent communications aimed to ensure public safety by discouraging gunfire near electrical infrastructure. He clarified that the discovery of shotgun pellet damage did not conclusively demonstrate that this was the cause of the outage.
Infrastructure Concerns
Chief David Monias of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation reminded the public that the region’s electric infrastructure is aging and often neglected. He argued that focusing on the pellet incident detracts from the broader issue of chronic failures in the power system, which requires urgent attention.
Looking to the Future
As tensions between the Pimicikamak community and Manitoba Hydro escalate, MKO is advocating for a thorough review of Hydro’s emergency response protocols. The provincial government has also requested Hydro to evaluate its performance during the outage and explore ways to enhance electrical reliability in the region.
In light of these developments, Chief Doreen Spence of the Tataskweyak Cree Nation plans to address the media regarding new research on the environmental impacts of Manitoba Hydro’s operations on the Churchill River.
This unfolding situation not only highlights the immediate need for improved crisis management but also the ongoing challenges faced by First Nations communities in their relations with utility providers.
