Indigenous Ownership in Canadian Transmission Infrastructure

As Canada accelerates its pursuit of “energy superpower” status by wielding its abundant conventional and clean energy resources, transmission infrastructure is fast becoming the backbone of this economic strategy. Facing substantial U.S. tariffs of up to 35% on some exports, Canada is under fierce pressure to diversify markets and pathways of energy and capital flow. In response, political leaders have pledged to fast‑track "projects of national interest" that strengthen Canada’s energy and economic autonomy. These projects will include a range of infrastructure including electricity transmission corridors to link remote resource zones with downstream markets and build grid capacity.

This transmission build‑out will span vast remote regions, First Nations territories, and key corridor routes. Power lines crossing these lands represent not only engineering and governance challenges, but also a historic economic opportunity as they allow Indigenous communities to shift from consultation partners to owners and operators of critical national infrastructure, securing rights, jobs, and revenue streams in grid-scale energy delivery. They also present opportunities to help electrify remote communities.

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

State of Transmission Infrastructure

Transmission lines are essential to Canada’s electricity system. They link generation from power plants to population centres and industrial loads. As energy demand grows, expanding and modernizing the transmission grid has become essential to:

• Connect energy resources to markets

• Connect remote communities to power

• Improve system reliability

• Enable electrification of industry and transportation

• Meet provincial and federal sustainability targets

  
  

According to Natural Resources Canada, the country’s transmission system spans over 430,000 kilometres of high-voltage lines and includes 35 interconnections with the United States. However, while north–south corridors are well-developed, the east–west interties remain weak, limiting energy integration and regional power sharing within Canada.

Recognizing these gaps, governments and utilities are now prioritizing transmission as strategic infrastructure. The federal government has proposed that transmission corridors be eligible for fast-track approvals. Provinces are also advancing internal builds such as British Columbia’s North Coast Transmission Line, bringing clean energy from the recently completed Site C Hydro Project to industry along the coast.

Overall, Canada’s transmission infrastructure is vast but uneven. It is undergoing a pivotal transformation driven by energy policy, electrification, and trade diversification. In this next phase, Indigenous ownership and leadership will be central to corridor development and community-based energy planning, particularly where new lines cross traditional territories and Indigenous land claims.

Indigenous Ownership Landscape

Many current and new transmission corridors will cross or border Indigenous territories. This positions Indigenous communities as rights holders whose consent and collaboration are essential. Increasingly, we are seeing Indigenous communities become owners and operators of critical energy infrastructure.

Canada is currently home to 29 transmission lines across various stages of development that have some level of Indigenous equity ownership. This is at least $23 billion worth of infrastructure based on projects with public capital costs. All data is sourced from our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT).

Indigenous-Owned Transmission Lines by Project Status

Transmission Line Equity Ownership Insights:

• Most Indigenous-owned transmission lines are in Ontario

• On average, an Indigenous-owned transmission line is owned by 6.8 communities

• 156 Indigenous communities hold equity ownership stakes in transmission lines

• Most of the projects are currently in development

This growing portfolio not only reflects the growing demand for energy infrastructure across Canada, but also deeper commitments toward reconciliation and energy sovereignty. IEM is excited to track and add newly announced projects to the IEOT.

Case Studies

The following projects are some examples of operating Indigenous-owned transmission infrastructure:

⚡Alberta Powerline Project (Alberta)

• 508-kilometer, 500-kV transmission line that runs from Wabamun to Fort McMurray

• Owned by TD Greystone Asset Management and 7 Indigenous communities

• 40% Indigenous-owned

• Operating since 2019

⚡Kingsvale Transmission Line (British Columbia)

• 24 kilometer line bringing power to TransMountain's Kingsvale pump station

• Owned by Shulus Electricity Transmission LP (Valard Construction LP, Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corp.)

• 55% owned by Lower Nicola Indian Band

• Operating since 2020

⚡Wataynikaneyap Power (Ontario)

• 1,800 kilometer line connecting 17 remote communities in NW Ontario to the provincial grid

• Owned by Wataynikaneyap Power LP (Fortis Ontario, 24 First Nations LP)

• 51% owned by 24 First Nations

• Operating since 2024

• Provincial funding programs utilized to enable equity ownership.

All data is sourced from our IEOT.

Other Recent Developments

• BC First Nations invest in North Coast Transmission Line Read More

• Caldwell First Nation invest in Chatham-Lakeshore Transmission Line Read More

• Garden River First Nation pulls out of transmission line deals Read More

Photo by Thomas Despeyroux on Unsplash

Benefits of Ownership

Equity ownership provides long-term, community-led value well beyond one-time agreements or impact benefits. Key benefits include:

• Revenue Generation: Long-term, stable income through dividends or revenue-sharing agreements that last the full project lifecycle, supporting economic independence.

• Local Jobs and Capacity Building: Employment opportunities during construction and operations, with longer-term roles in governance, asset management, and administration. Projects also support skills training, business development, and community capacity.

• Energy Sovereignty: Transmission infrastructure can be utilized to connect to remote communities to reduce dependence on diesel fuels.

• Control and Stewardship: Indigenous ownership enables Indigenous communities to embed cultural values and traditional knowledge into project design, environmental monitoring, and land use planning.

• Reinvestment in Community Priorities: Revenues are often redirected to housing, education, health care, youth programs, language revitalization, and infrastructure, enabling self-determined development at the community level.

Challenges and Evolving Landscape

Despite strong momentum, Indigenous communities still face structural and systemic challenges in developing and owning transmission infrastructure:

• Regulatory Complexity: Environmental assessments, permitting, Crown land access, and multi-jurisdictional alignment (federal and provincial) can be resource-intensive and require technical and legal capacity.

• Access to Capital: Equity participation requires significant upfront investment. Many communities lack access to capital without external financing tools like loan guarantees or blended finance tools that aren’t always widely accessible.

• Land and Jurisdictional Disputes: Proposed corridors often cross unceded or contested lands. Overlapping claims and unresolved title issues can delay projects and complicate benefit-sharing or ownership negotiations.

• Uneven Policy Support: Some provinces mandate Indigenous equity participation, but there is no consistent national framework. In many jurisdictions, inclusion depends on the discretion of project developers or utilities.

The Future of Transmission in Canada

Transmission infrastructure is becoming a central part of Canada’s energy and trade strategy. As new lines are built to connect resources and expand grid capacity, Indigenous ownership is expected to become a standard feature. With increasing access to capital from government programs and evolving procurement models, Indigenous communities are increasingly positioned to lead and participate directly in the build-out of Canada’s transmission system.

How IEM is Supporting Transparency

We’re actively tracking Indigenous participation in Canada’s growing transmission infrastructure sector as part of our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT). The IEOT is currently tracking over 480 Indigenous-owned projects across 5 sectors - oil & gas, power & utilities, chemicals & fuel, CCUS, and mining & minerals.

By centralizing and visualizing ownership data, we help communities, developers, and policymakers:

• Identify where Indigenous equity is being deployed

• Benchmark successful ownership models

• Understand trends across regions and sectors

• Discover funding sources that get projects built

• Build partnerships based on evidence

• And so much more

The IEOT is the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of Indigenous-owned major projects across Canada's energy and resource sectors. 

🔗Discover the IEOT Tool Here: https://www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca/ieot

Stay Informed, Get Involved

Whether you’re an Indigenous economic development group, a project developer, a researcher, or a polciy maker, IEM's transparency and data are essential.

🔗 Explore our solutions: www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca

📩 Contact us: info@indigenousenergymonitor.ca