As reported on wawa-news.com, project partners and supporters of the NextBridge East-West Tie Line Transmission Project today celebrated the beginning of the long-awaited construction project. NextBridge has been working closely with Indigenous communities, municipalities, landowners, community members and businesses over the past six years to see this essential $777-million electrical infrastructure project through to construction.

“We are delighted to now have shovels in the ground and to move this project forward with our partners,” says Jennifer Tidmarsh, Project Director and President of NextEra Transmission Canada.  “I’m personally grateful for the relationships the NextBridge team and I have formed as we’ve moved through regulatory process, and to know that the people of Northwestern Ontario will finally get the long-term reliable energy they need to grow and prosper, I’m so proud to be a part of this project.”

NextBridge was joined by representatives of Indigenous communities on the project right-of-way.  Six Indigenous communities nearest the project have formed Supercom Industries, which will ensure that employment and economic benefits flow to local Indigenous communities.

“The East-West Tie project offers an example of how industry and Indigenous communities can work together to build infrastructure while providing local economic benefits and respecting First Nation culture,” said Chief Peter Collins of Fort William First Nation and President of Bamkushwada, owners of Supercom Industries.  “Along with growth opportunities this project brings to the region, it has also helped us build capacity for community members that provide benefits long after the project is complete.”

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