A local First Nations chief is expressing excitement as the Ontario government's given the go-ahead for the building of a major power line between Wawa and Thunder Bay.
Ontario Energy Minister Greg Rickford announced Thursday that NextBridge has been designated as the transmitter to built the 450-kilometre, double circuit transmission line known as the "East-West Tie Line", rejecting a proposal from Hydro One.
Michipicoten First Nation Chief Pat Tangie says - as one of six First Nations who've partnered with NextBridge on the project through the Bamkushwada Limited Partnership - Michipicoten is quite pleased with the news.
Tangie adds that NextBridge has done "a lot of work" on consultation and accommodation of the First Nations.
BLP had recently called on the provincial government to grant NextBridge leave to construct, arguing Hydro One hadn't carried out the constitutionally-required duty to consult and accommodate First Nations.