OTTAWA – INDIGENOUS BUSINESS – A broad coalition of 17 organizations—including Indigenous clean-energy leaders, labour unions, physicians, faith and climate groups, electrical workers, and municipal councillors—is meeting with more than two dozen Members of Parliament on Sept. 24–25 to urge the federal government to build an east–west electricity grid powered by renewables. The coalition’s message: pair nation-building infrastructure with Indigenous rights and ownership, worker protections, and made-in-Canada components to maximize health, employment, and economic benefits.
The partners say recent federal announcements on major projects signal missed opportunities and that a connected, renewable grid—co-funded by Ottawa and the provinces—would lower costs and improve reliability by allowing regions to share low-cost renewable power. Today, provincial systems are more connected to the United States than to each other, even as Canada’s electricity needs are projected to double or triple by 2050 with electrification of industry, transportation, and heating.
Indigenous Rights, Ownership, and Jobs at the Core
Coalition members stress that all projects must uphold the legal and inherent rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and prioritize Indigenous-led electricity projects. Using union labour and Canadian-made components would strengthen supply chains, ensure quality jobs, and deliver long-term local benefits.
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Melina Laboucan-Massimo (Sacred Earth, Lubicon Cree):
“Indigenous communities are disproportionately facing the burdens of the climate crisis and fossil fuel extraction… We need policies and investments that prioritize public and Indigenous ownership and uphold workers’ and Indigenous rights… The government must choose a legacy of climate leadership, ecological balance, and true economic reconciliation.” -
Brandon Dyck (IBEW):
“IBEW members are ready to build a truly national network—from generation to end user… Clean, affordable power shared across provinces will create well-paying union jobs and benefit communities, with First Nations participation.” -
Stephen Thomas (David Suzuki Foundation):
“A connected, renewable grid will create thousands of jobs, improve energy security, and save people money. Pipelines are a dead end—Canada needs real solutions to today’s overlapping crises.” -
Dr. Helen Hsu (CAPE):
“A national renewable grid would reduce air pollution and cut carbon emissions, improving Canadians’ health now and long-term.” -
David Miller (Elbows Up for Climate):
“After a summer of wildfires, smoke, and evacuations, Canada must nation-build a clean energy grid to secure our future and bolster steel, aluminum, and advanced manufacturing.”
What Canadians Want
Polling cited by the coalition indicates broad public support:
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77% support upgrading Canada’s grid by connecting provinces and territories with new transmission lines.
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72% support federal funding for those lines.
When asked to choose, Canadians prefer an east–west renewable grid over building a new oil pipeline to either coast.
Health & Economic Benefits
Beyond emissions reductions and climate resilience, the coalition highlights billions in potential health-care savings from cleaner air and fewer pollution-related illnesses, in addition to long-term employment and regional economic development tied to renewable generation and transmission.
Why This Matters in Northwestern Ontario
For communities across Treaty 9 and Robinson-Superior, including Thunder Bay and the North, an east–west grid can:
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Lower power costs and improve reliability for remote and northern communities;
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Enable Indigenous equity ownership in transmission and generation, building own-source revenues;
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Support mining, processing, and clean manufacturing with stable, renewable power;
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Reduce reliance on diesel in remote communities, bringing health and cost benefits.
