Today, the Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, issued the following statement on the East-West Tie Line Project:
"Ontario's Government working for the People has taken decisive action to designate NextBridge as the transmitter to build a 450-kilometer, double-circuit transmission line from Thunder Bay to Wawa, known as the East-West Tie Line Project, to ensure the availability of reliable electricity across northern Ontario.
"Maintaining reliability and cost efficiency is a top priority for our government. The East-West Tie Line has long been identified as a priority project to provide a consistent supply of electricity that supports economic growth, job creation, and resource development in northwestern Ontario.
"Unfortunately, the Ontario Energy Board's review process has taken longer than expected, putting the timely construction of this necessary project at risk and potentially increasing costs for electricity customers.
"NextBridge is the right choice to quickly and efficiently complete the East-West Tie Line. NextBridge has finished the preliminary work necessary to complete the project, it has the support of local communities and First Nation and M?(C)tis partners, and the project sets in motion opportunities to create local employment for over 200 Indigenous people.
"Moving forward with the East-West Tie Line will support economic growth in northwestern Ontario, it is another signal that Ontario is Open for Business, and it connects northwestern communities and Indigenous people with immediate and future opportunities for good, local jobs.
"I look forward to continuing to work with NextBridge, the Ontario Energy Board, and local communities and Indigenous partners to ensure this necessary project is completed in a timely manner."