East West Tie Collective Agreement

The President and CEO Adam Budzinski, right, and NextEra Transmission President Eric Gleason sign the East-West Project Project Agreement on December 12 as a leader of the Upper Northern Region and other officials see the Dilico Anishinabek Family Care building in Fort William. The East-West Tie Transmission Project in northwestern Ontario will consist of a new 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line approximately 450 km long. The East-West Tie Line is under construction to connect the Wawa Transformer Station to Lakehead Transformer Station, near Thunder Bay, to provide reliable, long-term power to northwestern Ontario. The 230 kV transmission line, approximately 450 kilometres long, will generally run parallel to the existing 230 kV transmission line between Wawa and Thunder Bay. It has a scheduled date for 2020 in service. THUNDER BAY – Six municipalities in the Upper North are eagerly awaiting economic development and employment opportunities after NextBridge Infrastructure and Valard signed a contract for the Ontario East-West Tie Line project on December 12. The project is necessary to ensure the long-term reliability of electricity supply in northwestern Ontario. Industrial activity in the region, particularly in the mining sector, is expected to drive strong growth in electricity demand over the next decade. The Independent Power Grid Manager (IESO) has identified the supply needs of northwestern Ontario, which can be met by additional transfer or production, in conjunction with changes in the electricity supply in the region. The IESO analyzed these alternatives and recommended an extension of the EWT on the basis of technical, economic and other considerations. On March 2, 2016, Ontario declared that the construction of the EWT was necessary as a priority project. The NextBridge partnership was created to participate in Ontario`s transmission market.

The partnership jointly presented a proposal to the Ontario Energy Council (EB) for the planning, development, construction, ownership, operation and maintenance of the East-West Tie (EWT) Transmission Project in northwestern Ontario. On August 7, 2013, NextBridge was appointed by the EPO with the development of the EWT line and the filing of a Leave to Construct (LTC) application. NextBridge is committed to providing clear and respectful advice to all interested community members, First Nations and Métis Communities, elected officials and municipal staff, agencies, landowners and other stakeholders throughout the life of the project. Pic Mobert`s boss, Johanna Desmoulin, says it is a time of opportunity and economic growth for the six upper northern municipalities participating in the East-West tie line. She encouraged young people to participate in the project through SuperCom. “It`s a period of excitement, a period of growth and this opportunity is ahead of them,” says Desmoulin. “All you have to do is catch it.” “Because the groups are sub-owners, there will forever be a huge revenue stream for the groups and will offer many opportunities in terms of maintenance and everything else with the line,” says Pelletier. “Maybe it`s a win-win for everyone.” The six municipalities – Fort William, Red Rock Indian Band, Plat Country, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Pic Mobert and Michipicoten – have developed two partnerships, Bamkushwada Limited Partnership and SuperCom Industries, to take advantage of the East-West Tie Line. Pierre Pelletier, Grand Regional Chief of Robinson Senior Treatment Area, adds that the partnership of municipalities in the East-West tie line will be an advantage. “Valard will work closely with SuperCom to maximize the economic participation of SuperCom, neighbouring First Nation partners and close members of the First Nation in the construction and implementation of the project,” said Adam Budzinski, President and CEO of Valard.