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Aboriginal communities
Accomplishments
The Ontario government is committed to encouraging opportunities for Aboriginal participation in the energy sector and has launched several initiatives to support participation by First Nation and Métis communities in energy projects, including:
- The Aboriginal Energy Partnerships Program
- The fit Program: 17 aboriginal-led or partnered projects have secured contract offers
- The $250-million Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program
Ontario also has a significant partnership at the $2.6 billion Lower Mattagami hydroelectric project, which will see Moose Cree First Nation have up to a 25 per cent equity position with OPG.
Future Needs
First Nation and Métis communities have diverse energy needs and interests. Ontario will work to ensure there is a wide range of options for Aboriginal participation in Ontario’s energy future.
Conservation
Conservation priorities and the applicability of programs will vary between First Nation and Métis communities. Community education and youth engagement are also critical for conservation success. Ontario will launch programs to support participation in conservation initiatives, including Aboriginal Community Energy Plans and targeted conservation programs.
Renewable Energy
Future opportunities for First Nation and Métis communities include:
- Partnerships with private developers on confirmed fit projects under development,
- Development of smaller renewable microfit projects, like small wind or solar, to build community capacity in energy and generate income.
Existing Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 support programs will be adjusted to ensure that aboriginal communities can take advantage of these opportunities. Aboriginal participation levels will also be reviewed during the regular fit program review to determine whether adjustments are needed to the rules and incentives.
Transmission
Where new transmission lines are proposed, Ontario is committed to meeting its duty to consult First Nation and Métis communities in respect of their aboriginal and treaty rights and accommodate where those rights have the potential to be adversely impacted. Ontario also recognizes that Aboriginal communities have an interest in economic benefits from future transmission projects crossing through their traditional territories and that the nature of this interest may vary between communities.
There are a number of ways in which First Nation and Métis communities could participate in transmission projects. Where a new transmission line crosses the traditional territories of aboriginal communities, Ontario will expect opportunities be explored to:
- Provide job training and skills upgrading to encourage employment on the transmission project development and construction.
- Further Aboriginal employment on the project.
- Enable Aboriginal participation in the procurement of supplies and contractor services.
Ontario will encourage transmission companies to enter into partnerships with aboriginal communities, where commercially feasible and where those communities have expressed interest. The government will also work with the OPA to adjust the Aboriginal Energy Partnerships Program - currently focussed on renewable energy projects - to provide capacity funding for aboriginal communities that are discussing partnerships on future transmission projects.
The Plan
Ontario recognizes that successful participation by First Nation and Métis communities will be important to advance many key energy projects identified under a Long-Term Energy Plan. The path forward needs to be informed by regular dialogue with First Nation and Métis leadership through distinct processes. Working with First Nation and Métis leadership, Ontario will look for opportunities to promote on-going discussion of these issues.
Ontario’s remote First Nation communities currently rely on diesel generation for their electricity supply - but diesel fuel is expensive, difficult to transport, and poses environmental and health risks. According to analysis done so far, transmission connection would be less expensive over the long term than continued diesel use for many remote communities.
New transmission supply to Pickle Lake is a crucial first step to enable the connection of remote communities in northwestern Ontario. A new transmission line to Pickle Lake - one of this plan’s five priority projects - will help to service the new mining load and help to enable future connections north of Pickle Lake. Subject to cost contributions from benefiting parties, Ontario will focus on supplying Pickle Lake from the Ignace / Dryden area immediately. A line to serve the Nipigon area specifically will continue to be considered as the need for it evolves.
As part of this project, the government will also ask the OPA to develop a plan for remote community connections beyond Pickle Lake, including consideration of the relevant cost contributions from benefiting parties, including the federal government. This plan may also consider the possibility of onsite generation such as small wind and water to reduce communities' diesel use.