January 29, 2002

The Province of Manitoba has announced that it will establish a review process through the Public Utilities Board (PUB) that will provide for a public examination of the need for and alternatives to new hydroelectric projects. This would include reviews, as required, for all hydro and associated transmission projects that may be in service prior to 2015.

Greg Selinger, minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro, said that the combination of federal/provincial environmental and PUB reviews will ensure that Manitobans will have sufficient opportunities to obtain information about and comment on the projects before any decisions on construction are made.

Selinger noted that once Manitoba Hydro is satisfied that new major generation development is warranted, this would trigger a PUB review of proposed hydro developments and recommendations to government to ensure that all reasonable alternatives have been considered and that the preferred hydro development is economically and financially viable as an export market-driven project.

Any proceeding conducted by the Public Utilities Board to review Manitoba Hydro’s plans will include provision for the public to participate in the process, with qualified intervenors being eligible for funding of reasonable costs by Manitoba Hydro.

"It is important that the Public Utilities Board, in reviewing these plans and reporting to government, should hear from a wide cross-section of Manitobans during the hearing process," said Selinger.

He also noted that while the Public Utilities Board review would touch on environmental matters, it is not intended to be a substitute for or to prejudge the environmental impacts of proposed projects which will be the subject of a full consultation process and rigorous public hearings as set out in provincial and federal environmental assessment legislation.

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