March 21, 2024 — Calgary, AB — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Nukik Corporation

Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, CanNor and PrairiesCan, announced in a keynote address to the Arctic Energy and Resource Symposium that Nukik Corporation is receiving an additional $2.8 million in funding from Canada’s Northern REACHE Program to advance the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project to the next phase of development.

Led by Nukik, an Inuit-owned corporation, the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link proposes to build a 1,200 kilometre, 150 megawatt transmission line with fibre-optic cabling connecting Manitoba’s grid to the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. This nation-building project would take five communities and at least one gold mine off costly and polluting diesel and deliver high-speed internet to the region. The project would also significantly reduce the risk associated with shipping heavy fuels across the Arctic waters and fuel spills in communities.

This funding will advance the project development phase activities, which include the engineering, design, and environmental fieldwork necessary for the project to move forward. It builds on previous federal funding for the earlier planning and feasibility phase of the project. Construction is expected to begin by 2028.

Many communities in the North continue to rely on diesel for electricity and heat, which is costly, polluting, and contributes to climate change. This Inuit-led project will play an important role in reducing energy costs and pollution in the Kivalliq region, while helping to create local jobs and multi-generational socio-economic benefits.

By advancing Indigenous Climate Leadership, Canada is implementing Action 46 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan. This is a necessary action to fight climate change, create economic prosperity, and build a strong, healthy, sustainable future for Indigenous communities across Canada.