Manitoba Hydro targeting First Nations ratepayers
August 10, 2018
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
alexpapineau
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Treaty One Territory, MB – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is responding to news that Manitoba Hydro is asking the Manitoba Court of Appeal to overturn the Public Utilities Board (PUB) decision to create a new ‘First Nation on Reserve’ residential rate class.
The PUB made its decision after carefully considering thousands of pages of documents and dozens of hours of testimony. Its decision was both legally and factually sound.
Grand Chief Arlen Dumas noted, “This unnecessary and punitive appeal by Manitoba Hydro shows us Hydro’s true colours. By taking the rate freeze for First Nations on reserve to court, Hydro is sending mixed messages about its relationship with First Nations.”
“Hydro has met with the AMC several times, telling us they want to work with First Nations in Manitoba,” stated Grand Chief Dumas. “Yet their appeal is based on an interpretation of the law that makes no sense and has already been rejected, twice, by the PUB. We reject Hydro’s claim that its appeal is not about the social policy merits of the First Nation rate. Hydro opposed the First Nations On-Reserve Rate at the PUB hearing, they opposed it when they asked the PUB to review and vary the initial order, and they’re opposing it now.”
AMC is currently considering all of its legal options to ensure that the First Nations On-Reserve Rate remains in place.