FRANCAIS

June 12, 2003

Conservation Minister Steve Ashton today announced up to $1 million is available in participant assistance program funding for Manitobans who wish to participate in public hearings on the Wuskwatim hydroelectric generating and transmission projects.

"We want to ensure that all aspects of a project of this size are thoroughly explored through the open public hearing process," said Ashton

Applications have been received from First Nations, environmental organizations, individuals and other associations. The province issued a call for public assistance applications in May and September of 2002 and April of 2003. The project proponent provides assistance funding and in this instance it is Manitoba Hydro.

At the request of the Clean Environment Commission (CEC), the minister has approved the addition of two more members for the Wuskwatim panel who also sit on the Public Utilities Board (PUB):

• Dr. Kathi Avery Kinew MSW, PhD, who has 30 years experience working with First Nations; and
• Robert A. Mayer QC, currently the vice-chair of the PUB and a lawyer from Thompson.

A generating station and related dam is proposed for the Burntwood River at Taskinigup Falls at the outlet of Wuskwatim Lake. This is approximately 45 kilometres southwest of Thompson and 35 kilometres southeast of Nelson House, within the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) Resource Management Area.

Transmission lines would link the new generating station to the existing Manitoba Hydro transmission system south of Thompson and near The Pas.

Manitoba and Canada are participating in a co-operative environmental review process of the Wuskwatim project as outlined in the Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Co-operation in order to meet the requirements of both provincial and federal environmental legislation.

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