Project Spotlight: East-West Tie Transmission Line
In May 2026, six First Nations along Lake Superior's north shore increased their equity stake in Ontario's East-West Tie Transmission Line from 3.5% to 20% — a rare example of Indigenous ownership expanding on an already-operating asset, rather than being negotiated only at initial financing. The increase is backed by a new $75 million provincial guarantee under Ontario's Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program, and builds on a project where an Indigenous-led construction entity already delivered one of the region's largest infrastructure investments in decades.
Project Overview
The East-West Tie is a 450-kilometre, 230-kilovolt transmission line connecting Wawa and the Municipality of Shuniah, near Thunder Bay, Ontario. It entered service in March 2022 at a total project cost of approximately $777 million, built to address reliability and capacity needs in Northwestern Ontario, where electricity demand is forecast to grow by up to 81% by 2050, driven in part by the region's growing mining sector. During construction, the six participating First Nations formed Supercom Industries LP, a 100% Indigenous-owned partnership that managed workforce recruitment, training, and procurement for the project. On May 29, 2026, Ontario announced that Bamkushwada LP's equity stake in the line had increased from 3.5% to 20%, backed by a new $75 million provincial guarantee.
Project Details
Location: Wawa to Thunder Bay, Ontario
Technology: 230 kV transmission line (450 km)
Status: Operating
Estimated Cost: $777 million
Industry Partners: NextEra Energy Transmission affiliate (40%), Hydro One (40%)
Indigenous Partner: Bamkushwada LP (20%) representing Pic River First Nation, Pic Mobert First Nation, Pays Plat First Nation, Red Rock Indian Band, Michipicoten First Nation, and Fort William First Nation
Indigenous Ownership
Bamkushwada LP represents six First Nations along the north shore of Lake Superior. Its equity stake at the line's 2022 commissioning was 3.5%; as of the May 2026 announcement, that stake has grown to 20% — nearly a six-fold increase in ownership on an asset that has already been generating revenue for four years. Separately from their equity position, the six Nations also formed Supercom Industries LP during construction, a wholly Indigenous-owned entity that managed hiring, training, and procurement.
"This milestone highlights true First Nation leadership..." David Lebeter, President and CEO, Hydro One
Financial Details
A $75 million provincial guarantee under Ontario's Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program administered by the Building Ontario Fund, supported the expanded equity position. The guarantee is backed by a loan from Canada Life.
Why This Project Matters
Ownership can expand after commissioning, not just at financial close. Most Indigenous equity deals IEM tracks are negotiated once, at initial project financing. Bamkushwada LP's stake expanding four years after commissioning shows that minority positions can be renegotiated and grown on operating assets.
Two parallel tracks of Indigenous participation. Supercom Industries LP handled workforce and procurement separately from the ownership stake, demonstrating that Indigenous economic participation in a project can run through both an equity vehicle and an operational/construction entity at the same time.
Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker
The East-West Tie Transmission Line is one of the many Indigenous-owned power projects tracked in IEM's Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT). It was built to centralize project ownership details, identify partnership models, and improve transparency across Canada's energy transition.
🔗 Explore the IEOT:
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