Keeyask Generation Project

View Manitoba Hydro's webpage for Keeyask Generating Station project

The Keeyask Generating Station would produce an average of 4,400 gigawatt hours of electricity each year and would be located about 725 km northeast of Winnipeg, where Gull Lake flows into Stevens Lake - about 35 km upstream of the existing Kettle Generating Station. Stevens Lake is a reservoir already for dams.

Keeyask would be Manitoba's fourth largest generating station. It would result in flooding of approximately 46 square kilometers of boreal taiga lands, and this area may gradually increase as a result of erosion.

The earliest potential in service date for the project is 2017 and the earliest date that construction is likely to begin is 2012.

View Manitoba Hydro maps of proposed Keeyask Generating Station: Overview Map & Close-up Map
View Manitoba Hydro's Overview webpage for Keeyask Generating Station

Unfortunately the Manitoba government continues to issue licences for Hydro projects before Aboriginal Consultations are finished. This is one obvious concern regarding the licence.

Manitoba Wildlands continues to be concerned about the numerous commitments Manitoba Hydro made during the Keeyask hearings which are not all reflected in the licence. In face updated, supplements and changes to the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) were happening during a period of a year, including during the hearings. Despite this the licence introduction indicates it is based on the EIS and the CEC report post hearings.

Steps are needed urgently to make sure that any commitment, or change made through public materials, under oath during hearings, etc are included in what the Minister has available to him when making decisions about a class three licence.

View January 26, 2015 Manitoba Wildlands letter

The extensive and lengthy licence is combined with a letter from Minister Mackintosh directly Manitoba Hydro to take the steps necessary for reconciliation with Aboriginal communities in Manitoba affected by Manitoba Hydro projects. Despite lengthy environmental compliance requirements for the project in the licence, many of which are based on Clean Environment Commission recommendations, the licence does not give confidence about how compliance will be enforced.

Sections of the licence stipulate that future regulations, and Manitoba law during the one hundred year life of the project, must also be enforced. Other sections have this requirement left out.

The licence section about access to information, and monitoring reports, transparency on decisions made regarding the lands and waters in the Keeyask region, is weaker than commitments made by Manitoba Hydro and the Keeyask Partners during CEC hearings. Overall, many commitments made by the proponent during the hearings are absent from the licence. It is Manitoba Wildlands’ position that any steps agreed to by the Proponent when under oath during a public hearing are relevant in the decisions about content of an environmental licence.

View July 30, 2014 Manitoba Wildlands letter

Manitoba Wildlands filed Information Requests, reviewed the Environmental Impact Station for the generation station, cross-examined both the Keeyask Hydro Limited Partnership community representatives and Manitoba Hydro experts. Participants were also able to cross examine each other’s expert witnesses. We are providing short summaries of the contribution Manitoba Wildlands experts provided to the CEC, and link to their reports and hearing presentations below.

Manitoba Wildlands experts included:

• Dr. Amelia Clarke of Waterloo University who provided the hearings and the panel with an analysis of the journey from sustainable development to sustainability for projects such as a generation station. Dr. Clarke identified the stages between minimum compliance for sustainable development criteria to the outcomes that would result from sustainability. Her analysis included the regulatory, and public policy framework in Manitoba for sustainable development and sustainability.

  View Report
  View Presentation

• Ms Alyson McHugh of Coldstream Ecology, who provided the panel with international, national, and Manitoba bases for best practices in the planning, environmental assessment and potential operation of a generation station. Ms McHugh included ecosystem services, and possible change in ecosystem services as a primary element in her analysis. She brought her practical, business experience with monitoring and environmental protection plans for rivers, and hydro projects into the discussion for consideration of the CEC.

  View Report
  View Presentation

• Matt Bowick and James Salazar, of Coldstream Consulting, who are both experts in the current international and industrial standards for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of materials used in large multi material projects. They gave the panel and participants a ‘guided tour’ through the history and best practices in LCA, based on the International Standard Organization directives. Mr. Bowick and Mr. Salazar then provided their recommended protocol for a full Keeyask LCA. Their advice to the CEC included steps that Manitoba Hydro could take to step up the standards in the LCA analysis for Keeyask referenced in the EIS.

  View Report
  View Presentation

• Dan Soprovich of Bluestem Wildlife Services assessed certain of the Valued Ecosystem Components used as the basis for conclusions regarding insignificant effects from building Keeyask Generation Station. He also questioned conclusions in one of the technical reports from Manitoba Hydro especially with respect to habitat suitability assumptions, which appeared to contradict or change content in the EIS.

  View Report 1
  View Report 2
  View Presentation

Manitoba Wildlands prepared a series of reports, and charts regarding the Keeyask Generation Station project, and the materials provided by Manitoba Hydro for the CEC hearings.

Certain of these reports and products reflect issues with the environmental filings from the proponent, while others reflect specific issues identified during the CEC hearings. The objective is to provide analysis, and information that boosts or improves on the proponent's information, in order to support decision making about the Keeyask Generation Station.

We are listing and linking here a some of our Keeyask reports and charts.

• Keeyask CEC hearings product AND an updated Species Chart for the website
• Keeyask Study Areas report
• Keeyask Environment Protection Program - Monitoring Report
• Keeyask Valued Ecosystem Components - Manitoba Wildlands report
• Proponent Compliance with Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines
• Manitoba Hydro Keeyask Generation & Transmission Projects Chronology Chart
• CEC Proceedings (Pre­Hearings): List of Manitoba Hydro's Late Filings
• Keeyask Environmental Externalities
• Precautionary Principle and Approach for the Keeyask Generation Station Project
• January 8, 2014 Manitoba Wildlands closing statements

Participants in the proceedings and hearings provided closing statements through the week. Most advised the CEC Panel that they could not recommend a licence for the generation station. Reasons varied, but included gaps in method, gaps in data, and the need for the public utility to update its standards, share information, and be open to advice.

Legal counsel for Pimicikamak pointed to discrepancies in environmental assessment, and cumulative environmental assessment content in environmental statements for the project. They also identified the artificial limitation on the boundaries of study areas, and impact zones identified by the utility.

Legal counsel for Peguis First Nation identified the omission of traditional users, and rights holders in the Keeyask region from all information, presentations, and content – other than the four Keeyask Cree Nation partners.

Legal counsel for Consumers Association of Canada, Manitoba division, pointed to the pattern of recommendations from the CEC regarding hydro projects that have not been fulfilled since 2004, and that need urgent action. They also identified concrete reasons why they could not recommend a licence for this project, in the midst of a highly disturbed ecosystem and river system, without a range of changes in analysis and verifiable science.

Monitoring over the life of the generation station (100 years), and independent scientific advice and reviews were themes from multiple participants in their closing statements.

While the week progressed Manitoba Hydro decided to indicate that the Conawapa Generation Station project would be going to the Hydro board in March, and that the training program for Conawapa would upgrade those working on Keeyask also.

The utility also indicated their plan on how to conduct the Regional Cumulative Effects Assessment (RCEA) for the hydro region in northern Manitoba was with the minister, and they expected to finish the work in 2014. The assessment was recommended by the CEC, and endorsed by Minister Makintosh with direction to the utility after Bipole III. Participants' response to this timeline for the RCEA was consistent: The RCEA needs to be independent from the utility, with its cooperation, so as to avoid self assessment, and the same experts used for most Hydro projects.

To the surprise of the CEC and participants, Manitoba Hydro also indicated the general contract to build Keeyask has been awarded.

The CEC report regarding the Keeyask Generation Project has to be in the hands of the Minister within 120 days of the end of hearings.

The week of January 6 is scheduled as the last week of the CEC hearings regarding the Keeyask Genertion project, which included a three week extension. The final week includes some cross examination of returning experts, presentation of the answers to the set of 55 CEC questions, further questions from the CEC panel, and then closing arguments from the proponent, and the participants. Thursday, January 9 is the final day of the hearings.

• rights of Aboriginal persons in the Keeyask regional study to exercise their rights to hunt, fish, gather, camp, etc
• the urgent need for a regional cumulative effects assessment of the existing, previous hydro projects
• lack of baseline data access, and challenges to identify the technical, data, or scientific basis for Manitoba Hydro assessment results
• assessment of mercury effects beyond the mercury in fish, to include mercury spread in plants, and a range of animals which humans may also ingest
• identification of First Nations who are not part of the business partnership for the project, who may have been left out of discussions, consultations etc
• fulfillment of the Manitoba principles and guidelines for sustainability and sustainable development
• the historic pattern of land and water change and inundation from hydro projects in the hydro region on Manitoba lakes and rivers
• life cycle assessment of all materials, and all emissions from the planning, construction and operation phase of the project
• whether Manitoba Hydro is updating and improving its scientific methods and standards to meet current scientific knowledge available for this kind of project
• whether species that will be affected by this project will survive
• whether predictions of flooding, emissions, social impacts, risks, and results provided by the utility will be accurate
• whether those communities who are business partners in the project will in fact benefit
• whether the power generation is needed for Manitoba customers

The CEC will issue its recommendations regarding licensing in its report, due 120 days after the end of their Keeyask hearings. In the meantime the Public Utilities Board hearings regarding Manitoba Hydro's development plan start in March 2014. The CEC will be starting its mandated review of Lake Winnipeg Regulation in early 2014 also.

A tour of northern Manitoba communities impacted by Hydro projects was conducted in late September, and early October. Then hearings in Winnipeg began October 21.

The panels of Hydro experts have almost finished their presentations. Cross-examination from participants and the Commission follow each panel's presentations. Some but not all participants have legal counsel. Panels are based on the volumes and topics in the Environmental Impact Statements and supplementary filings for the project, under Manitoba's Environment Act.

Starting November 12 participants will bring in their independent expert witnesses, especially in areas such as woodland caribou, sustainability, cumulative assessment, water quality, mercury poisoning, and flooding from Manitoba's hydro system. These witnesses and experts will be informing the CEC for about 4 weeks.

Four northern First Nations are partners in the Keeyask Generation project, and they have participated in panels with Manitoba Hydro. The four have also presented their environmental evaluations of the project. Other affected First Nations are among hearing participants. Questions about the history of the Nelson River region, the right to exercise aboriginal and treaty rights in the region, and which other First Nations will be affected by Keeyask are being asked in the hearings.

CEC hearings are open to the public, and being held at the Hotel Fort Garry in downtown Winnipeg.

Manitoba Wildlands posts a daily summary during the hearings on its fb wall. Other products are being developed during the hearings, including a CEC Chart of all Keeyask Generation documents, events, decisions, etc. Watch the brag box on the ManitobaWildlands.org news page for posts.

There are other Keeyask projects, including the Keeyask Transmission project and the Keeyask Infrastructure project, licensed earlier. The Radisson converter station will be updated in order to move energy from this possible generation station along Bipole 1 & 2 to the Dorsey converter station in Winnipeg.

Certain of these recommendations are repeats from the CEC report regarding the Wuskwatim projects as provided to cabinet in 2004 and made public in 2005. In particular the CEC has again recommended that a regional cumulative effects assessment " for all Manitoba Projects and associated infrastructure in the Nelson River sub watershed" be undertaken "prior to the licensing of any additional projects..."

Recommendation # 13.2 identifies what has not happened, despite 45 years of projects being build, waterways being altered, and effects continuing and multiplying. CEC reports are posted on the commission's website.

Manitoba Wildlands is posting the two motions. The CEC has not made them public.

• Peguis First Nation notice of motion
• Pimicikamak notice of motion

We will be providing coverage over the next 8 months, as the hearings are likely to be in October and November 2013.

Manitoba Wildlands will be keeping a chart of events, documents, decisions - similar to our Bipole III CEC Chart. Please note that Keeyask is also being reviewed under the Canadian Environmental Assessment (CEAA) Act, 1992. The chart, therefore, includes CEAA documents, and assessment steps.

Manitoba Hydro Keeyask Generation & Transmission Projects Chronology Chart January 13, 2014

The comments highlighted the Keeyask Projects as one of Manitoba's worst examples of staged licensing: Keeyask is being licensed as at least three separate projects (Infrastructure, Generation, and Transmission), plus an unknown number of related projects (such as road upgrades and converter station upgrades). The comments also identified a lack clear information/standards for transmission projects in Manitoba. Contrary to common public perception, and statements made by Manitoba politicians, Keeyask power will flow down Bipole I not Bipole III.

View January 7, 2013 Manitoba Wildlands Comments: Manitoba Hydro Keeyask Transmission Project - Public Registry File #5614.00 (PDF)

Following this comment period, CEAA will prepare the Comprehensive Study Report, setting out its conclusions on the environmental effects, the proposed mitigation measures and the significance of any remaining adverse environmental effects. A public comment period on the Comprehensive Study Report will be announced at a later date.

The proposed Keeyask Generation Project, is a $5.6 billion 695-megawatt hydroelectric dam, slated for development by Keeyask Hydro Power Limited Partnership (between Manitoba Hydro and four nearby Manitoba First Nations) on the Nelson River at Gull Rapids near Gillam, Manitoba.

Modern dams in Manitoba require at least three licenses. Two licenses from the Manitoba government: a Water Power Act license, and an Environment Act License; plus a federal permit under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA).

The federal environmental assessment also considers a proposal by Manitoba Hydro for a 22 kilometre transmission line to provide construction power to the Keeyask Generation Project and three 35 kilometre long transmission lines within a single corridor to transmit electricity from the Keeyask Generation Project to the existing Radisson Converter Station near Gillam, Manitoba.

Unlike CEAA, the Manitoba Government Environmental Approvals Branch is attempting to license the Keeyask Infrastructure, Keeyask Generation, and Keeyask Transmission projects separately.

Manitoba Wildlands highlighted:

1. The ability for a thorough review was undermined by an inadequate time frame for review and supporting technical documents not being available for review at the public registry.
2. That Crown-Aboriginal Consultations need to take place first, before environmental licensing, rather than after environmental licensing as assumed by Manitoba Hydro.
3. That, similarly, a review of the Needs For and Alternatives To (NFAAT) the Keeyask project needed to take place before environmental licensing.
4. The Keeyask Transmission and Generation projects should be licensed together, rather than separately as proposed by Manitoba Hydro.

The proposed 695 megawatt ~$6 billion Keeyask Generating station located on the Nelson River near Gillam, Manitoba, would require Water Power Act and Environment Act licenses from Manitoba. It will also require federal license and permit approvals from Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA). The previous Canadian Environmental Assessment Act will apply, as the Keeyask project was proposed before the Canadian Government completely replaced the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act through the Omnibus Budget Bill passed June 2012.

Keeyask is the next project in Manitoba Hydro's plan to build ~$20 billion in new hydro developments over the next decade. Other hydro developments include: the Bipole III transmission corridor that is presently undergoing Clean Environment Commission (CEC) hearings, and the proposed Conawapa generating station.

The Keeyask generating station will also be subject to Clean Environment Commission hearings, although none have been announced yet.

Comments on the Water Power Act license are dues August 31, 2012 and comments on the Environment Act license are due September 20, 2012.

Modern hydroelectric dams in Manitoba require at least three licenses, as well as additional permits:

1. A license under the Manitoba Environment Act (Wuskwatim was the first hydroelectric generating station in Manitoba built after passage of the Environment Act and was therefore the first generating station to obtain a license under the Environment Act);
2. A license under the Manitoba Water Power Act (historically in Manitoba most hydroelectric dams were only required to obtain interim Water Power Act licenses before becoming operational, and many dams in Manitoba continue to operate with an interim licenses only, rather than with final licenses);
3. A license under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has determined that a comprehensive assessment will be required and that the old provisions of CEAA will apply – as part of the May 2012 Canadian Omnibus Budget Bill the entire text of CEAA was replaced);
4. Export of any energy from Keeyask also requires a permit from the National Energy Board.
5. The Government of Manitoba has also promised an independent Needs For And Alternatives To (NFAAT) assessment of the Keeyask project.
6. Staged licensing for infrastructure and work camps preceded the EIS filing.

Paper copies of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Keeyask Hydro electric generation station, as required under the Manitoba Environment Act, were only submitted to Public Registries across Manitoba in late August. The public and the technical review committee therefore have had less than a month to comments on 13 volumes of technical information numbering thousands of pages.

"Under these conditions there is no way for a proper review to be conducted. The deadline must be extended," said Manitoba Wildlands Director Gaile Whelan Enns.

It is also unclear why comments on the Water Power Act license are due so soon, when a Water Power Act license is not likely be issued until after an Environment Act license, which also follows public hearings.

"If the Water Power Act license will only be issued after an Environment Act license, which would come after public hearings that may occur a year or more from now, then comments on the Water Power Act license application should open after an Environment Act license is issued," said Manitoba Wildlands Director Gaile Whelan Enns.

The Government of Manitoba also announced in January of 2011 that in addition to licensing requirements mentioned above "it is the provincial government's intention to assign responsibility to an independent body for carrying out a NFAT (sic.) (Needs For and Alternatives To) assessment of [Keeyask]."

Nobody, including government officials and Manitoba Hydro, are sure what independent body will be appointed, when this NFAAT assessment will begin, or what the NFAAT process will be.

Despite government promises to the contrary, the Keeyask Generation project is being licensed in stages (meaning it is being licensed as separate parts, rather than on the basis of the whole project.) An Environment Act license was issued allowing Manitoba Hydro to construct the work camp infrastructure for the Keeyask generation project April 13, 2012.

Click here for larger version

The public has until September 20, 2012 to provide comments as announced by Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship Environmental Approvals Branch in the July 14, 2012 edition of the Winnipeg Free Press.

The Keeyask Hydro Power Limited Partnership previously filed an Environment Act Proposal Form (EAPF) and a "Scoping Document for the Environmental Assessment of the Keeyask Generation Project" with Manitoba Conservation Environmental Approvals Branch December 9, 2011. Manitoba Wildlands provided comments on February 3, 2012.

The application for an interim Water Power Act license for the Keeyask dam was filed February 8, 2012. The public has until August 31, 2012 to provide comments to Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship Water Use Licensing Section as also announced in the July 14, 2012 Winnipeg Free Press.

Modern dams in Manitoba require at least three licenses.

Two licenses from the Manitoba government: a Water Power Act license, and an Environment Act License. The Wuskwatim generating station, which was started in 2006 and is nearing completion, was the first hydroelectric dam in Manitoba required to obtain an Environment Act license. All previous dams in Manitoba were only required to obtain Water Power Act licenses. Many dams in Manitoba still only operate with interim Water Power Act licenses.

The Keeyask Dam will also require a federal license under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). A project description for the Keeyask Generating Station was submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency August 31, 2011. Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines were finalized May 29, 2012.

The Agency determined that a comprehensive study for review under (CEAA) was required. Also, because the comprehensive study was underway before Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (part of the Canadian 2012 Omnibus Budget Bill) came into force, the former Act will apply.

Export of any energy from the Keeyask dam would also require a permit from the National Energy Board.

Download January 31, 2012 Manitoba Wildlands Comments Gull Rapids - Keeyask Generation Project (PDF)

Manitoba also responded to the Manitoba Hydro Hydro Scoping Document about the Keeyask generation station. The Scoping Document comes before setting of EIS guidelines, and filing of the EIS, both for public review.

Download February 3, 2012 Manitoba Wildlands Comments Keeyask Generation Project Scoping Document (PDF)

Priorities in the comments filed by Manitoba Wildlands for this first stage of planning and environmental reviews for the Keeyask project include: need for clarity as to project area overall, and areas for environment components; the number of current and intended projects relevant to this project; access to technical reports; clarity on public open houses and consultations; need to incorporate the standards, and at least meet: recommendations and licensing conditions for the Wuskwatim generation station – which is currently being built in northern Manitoba.

The federal and provincial environmental effects assessments and licensing process for the next Manitoba next dam have begun. The Keeyask Generation Project, a 695-megawatt dam, would be located on the Nelson River near Gillam, Manitoba.

The proponent, Keeyask Hydro Power Limited Partnership, (a partnership between Manitoba Hydro and four Manitoba First Nations), submitted a project description for the Keeyask Generating Station to Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (The Agency) for review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) August 31, 2011. A CEAA environmental assessment is required because approvals are likely required under Canada Fisheries Act and Navigable Waters Protection Act, or other federal laws. The Agency determined that a comprehensive study, which commenced November 29, 2011, was required and made available funding under its Participant Funding Program available.

A Manitoba Environment Act license would also be required. The proponents filed an Environment Act Proposal Form (EAPF) and a "Scoping Document for the Environmental Assessment of the Keeyask Generation Project" with Manitoba Conservation Environmental Assessment and Licensing Branch (EALB) December 9, 2011. Public comments can be filed until January 31, 2012. The scoping document helps develop guidelines for an environmental assessment of the proposed Keeyask Generation Project. The guidelines will establish the scope of the Project and the assessment, including factors to be considered in the assessment.

The scoping document is only the first step in the process of Manitoba Environment Act licensing. After scoping guidelines are final, the proponents file an EIS with the EALB. The EIS then undergoes public review. When the EIS review is completed, including any refilling or updating of the EIS, a referral to Manitoba's Clean Environment Commission (CEC) for public hearings is expected. It is not yet clear how a joint federal / provincial review or panel or hearings will be undertaken.

In June 2008, the Joint Keeyask Development Agreement (JKDA) was ratified by Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation, and York Factory First Nation. Each community also agreed on Adverse Effect Agreements.

In 2009, a ceremony was held in Split Lake to mark the official signing of the JKDA and outlined the partnership arrangements for the First Nation's participation. The Keeyask Cree Nations collectively have the right to own up to 25 percent of the partnership, with 75 percent remaining with Manitoba Hydro.

A comprehensive environmental impact assessment will be required to determine potential effects on the environment and people, mitigation develop follow-up monitoring programs. Studies of the existing environment, socio-economic and heritage resources started in 2007.

Public involvement will be conducted in three rounds of consultation before the process is complete. Currently at Round 1 of the Public Involvement Program, this stage includes project description and issue identification.

View Joint Keeyask Development Agreement
Download Fox Lake Cree Nation - Adverse Effects Agreement (PDF)
Download Tataskweyak Cree Nation - Adverse Effects Agreement (PDF)
Download War Lake First Nation - Adverse Effects Agreement (PDF)
Download York Factory First Nation - Adverse Effects Agreement (PDF)
Download May 2008 - Keeyask Generation Project Newsletter (PDF)
Download Keeyask - EIA Public Involvement Program: Round 1 (PDF)
Visit Cree Nation Partners website

Planning, Studies, Environmental Licensing and Regulatory Process
According to Manitoba Hydro's May 2008 Project Newsletter, planning and environmental studies have already begun as part of the preliminary project work.

Download Manitoba Hydro's May 2008 Keeyask Generation Project Newsletter - Round One (PDF)

No decision has been made to proceed with the project and Manitoba Hydro has not yet filed a proposal under Manitoba's Environment Act to seek regulatory review and approval for the Keeyask project. As part of the preliminary planning for Keeyask, Manitoba Hydro will be undertaking environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies, the results of which will be compiled in an environmental impact statement (EIS). Manitoba Hydro has been working with affected Cree Nations since 2001 to collect information that will be part of the EIA.

The EIS would be publicly available and submitted for review and approval under the Manitoba Environment Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (as well as other provincial and federal legislation where permits or licences are required for construction and operation).

• physical environment
• terrestrial and aquatic environments
• heritage resources
• resource use (started 2007)
• socio-economic environment (started 2007)

Manitoba Hydro expects public hearings will be held during environmental and regulatory review processes.

Associated Transmission Infrastructure
The proposed Keeyask Generating Station project consists of the powerhouse, spillway, three dams (central, north, south), dykes and a transmission tower spur. The project would also require associated transmission infrastructure to deliver the power to Manitoba Hydro's transmission grid. According to Manitoba Hydro's May 2008 Project Newsletter, "New transmission capacity is being planned, but is being developed as a separate project for reliability and security of the electricity system". Manitoba Hydro may attempt to avoid review of the transmission system when the generation station is reviewed.

Aboriginal Partnerships
Similar to the Wuskwatim generation project, Manitoba Hydro is currently negotiating an equity partnership with four First Nations - Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN), War Lake First Nation, York Factory First Nation and Fox Lake Cree Nation. TCN was the first community to enter into discussions with Manitoba Hydro, signing an Agreement in Principle in October 2000. The AIP outlines a basis for negotiating the Joint Keeyask Development Agreement (JKDA). The JKDA governs how the project would be developed and would set out understandings related to potential income opportunities, training, employment, business opportunities, and other related matters. Once finalized, support from the majority of the populations of the four Keeyask First Nations (through a formal vote on the JKDA) will be required as a condition of the Keeyask project to proceed.

In May 2001, TCN and War Lake First Nation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding, which created the Cree Nation Partners (CNP). The purpose of CNP is to work together as partners to negotiate all matters with Manitoba Hydro related to Keeyask.

• Limited Partnership Agreement
• Power Purchase Agreement
• Project Financing Agreement
• Maintenance Agreement
• Systems Operations Agreement

In November 2002, Manitoba Hydro provided the First Nations with a document entitled "Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Arrangements for the Development of the Keeyask Project". It was presented as an opening position, which could be negotiated.

As part of negotiating the JKDA, each participating First Nation - Tataskweyak Cree Nation, War Lake First Nation, Fox Lake Cree Nation and York Factory First Nation - is negotiating a separate Adverse Effects Agreement that will bind the Keeyask Limited Partnership.

The purpose of the Adverse Effects Agreements, with certain exceptions, is to fully address all past and future Keeyask adverse effects on the Keeyask Cree Nations and their members which arise from the development and operation of the Keeyask Project and are foreseeable with the exercise of due diligence as of the date of the signing.

If all four First Nations sign the JKDA, and each First Nation maximizes its ownership in Keeyask, ownership would be as follows: Manitoba Hydro: 75%; TCN: 13%; War Lake First Nation: 2%; Fox Lake Cree Nation: 5%; York Factory First Nation: 5%.

Public Involvement
Manitoba Hydro has identified opportunities for public involvement as part of environmental impact assessment (EIS) activities related to Keeyask Generating Station project.

View Manitoba Hydro's webpage for Keeyask's Environmental Assessment Public Involvement Program

Open houses were held in June 2008 in Gillam, Thompson, Winnipeg and Brandon as part of Round One of the public involvement program.

Manitoba Hydro envisions two additional rounds of public involvement. See page 7 of the May 2008 Keeyask Generation Project Newsletter - Round One (PDF) for more information.

Separate formal consultations arising from the duty to consult with Aboriginal communities under Section 35 of the Constitution will also be required in order for the Keeyask project to proceed.

The questions below were asked in the workshop - with some additions for web site audiences. Participants included Councilors and members from four affected First Nations. Several of the community participants indicated that the questions asked by Manitoba Wildlands were also being asked by the communities in negotiations with Manitoba Hydro.

Download November 2008, Keeyask Questions - Winnipeg Workshop (PDF)