CROSS LAKE – Manitoba Hydro announced on Thursday that it is in the process of restoring power to residents of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation, a northern First Nation, after a power outage that forced evacuations. The outage, which began late on Sunday when a power line crossing the Nelson River snapped, left the community without electricity for several days.
The completion of repairs, described as challenging due to severe weather conditions, occurred just a day after Chief David Monias of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation requested assistance from Prime Minister Mark Carney, urging the military to intervene in what he described as a crisis. Manitoba Hydro explained that the power restoration would occur gradually to prevent system overload and potential equipment damage, noting that electric furnaces consume significant power when reactivated during cold weather conditions.
The downed power line was approximately 300 meters long and connected two islands in the Nelson River. Repairs were complicated by insufficient ice thickness, which made it unsafe for repair vehicles to access the site. Despite the harsh weather, with temperatures plummeting to -30 C, Manitoba Hydro crews were able to carry out the necessary repairs safely and effectively.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Carney, Chief Monias expressed pressing concerns about the dire situation within the community. He reported that water tanks had frozen, sewage systems were failing, and there was a shortage of potable water. The chief highlighted that “elders, infants, children, and medically vulnerable citizens are at immediate risk,” emphasizing the urgency to address the situation. He urged that every passing hour of inaction deepens the community's suffering and risks more lives.
As a result of the outage, evacuations have already begun, with families relocated to areas such as Norway House, Thompson, and Winnipeg. Chief Monias noted that hotel accommodations in these neighboring centers were reaching capacity and warned that further evacuations were expected due to worsening conditions. He also pointed out the potential aftermath of restored power, predicting widespread burst pipes and flooding that would exacerbate the emergency and potentially displace more families.
Monias conveyed that, despite assistance from Indigenous Services Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, the magnitude of the crisis exceeded local and regional resources. He called for the immediate deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces' Joint Task Force West to provide essential help, including logistical support for evacuations, temporary shelter solutions, and water delivery and sanitation services.
This situation follows a previous emergency last summer when several thousand community members were airlifted 500 kilometers south to Winnipeg due to wildfires impacting the area. The evacuation, which involved significant logistical challenges, lasted about a month and highlighted the community's vulnerability to natural disasters.
In response to the outages, Manitoba Hydro stated they had provided a large generator to restore power to a water treatment plant and supplied eight additional generators for heavy-duty heaters to be used by the community. Approximately 20 Manitoba Hydro employees remained on-site during the outage and will continue their work until power is fully restored.
Hal Turner, Manitoba Hydro's chief operating officer, thanked community members for their patience during the repair process and acknowledged the difficult circumstances they faced. Meanwhile, Public Safety Canada is closely monitoring the situation, coordinating efforts with Indigenous Services and the province of Manitoba, to ensure power restoration is executed quickly and safely. Soraya Lemur, press secretary to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, affirmed that federal and provincial officials are actively collaborating to address the community's emerging needs through the provision of essential supplies and support.
As the situation develops, updates will be provided to the community and stakeholders, and additional assistance will be available as required.
