OTTAWA — The Canada Infrastructure Bank has been in talks with the proponents of a $1.2-billion hydroelectric transmission line that would supply emissions-free power to a handful of communities and two major mines in Nunavut, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
The CIB, established in 2017, is a key feature in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s infrastructure spending program, in which Ottawa plans to spend as much as $190 billion over the next 12 years to build new roads, telecoms lines and other projects. It has made just one investment thus far.The proposal to build the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link is being led by a partnership between the Kivalliq Inuit Association and Anbaric Development Partners, a Massachusetts-based firm.
“We’re trying multiple angles to get as much funding as we can for this project,” said Gabriel Karlik, executive director of the association. As part of its early-stage consultations, the association is still looking to identify a set route for the hydro and fibre optics line. Part of those discussions will involve talks with the Manitoba Dene, whose ancestral lands lie just south of the border with Nunavut.
Meanwhile, the list of other potential hydroelectric projects that the CIB could invest in is limited.
Building new hydroelectric projects today? When Levelized Cost of Electricity for renewable energy is already at par with nuclear & hydro energy costs - WITHOUT any government subsidies? Why do we still need to destroy the environment?
If Ottawa has $1.2 billion to throw away on a virtue project I have a list of more effective uses of the money. Fix homelessness, Fix hunger, and Fix disease. onpoli cdnpoli
Sure lets spend billions to provide electricity to a couple thousand people, Canada is so broken