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Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What happens next? (If a preferred route is chosen)

A Ontario government still needs to reach an agreement with Manitoba on the power to be purchased. If and when that is in place, the government will need to review the proposed power purchase agreement and the possible line routing options, including initial views on a preferred routing from First Nations, to decide whether to proceed. Part of that decision would be who will conduct the studies.

If and when the Ontario government and NAN First Nations have decided to proceed with certain conditions and principles set out by the First Nations, then a series of studies would commence on the preferred routing. Formal and extensive government consultations with affected First Nations along the preferred route would start to take place at this time. This stage could take several years as Environmental Assessments can take 3 to 5 years. In addition, if there was an approval by all parties for the large scale transmission project and if formal consultations and approval processes were completed, then construction of the line would start which could take another 3 to 5 years. In other words, the total time lines for the study phase, the planning process, regulatory approvals, and construction of the line is between 12-15 years before any in-service targeted date can be reached.

The Chiefs Steering Committee would like to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season.

For more information please call Tracey Willoughby, Communications Assistant at 1 (800) 465-6821 or visit our website at www.chiefssteeringcommittee.com

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Communications Team Bulletin # 10– January 24, 2007

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

• No negotiations have taken place between the CSC and Ministry of Energy. We are at the pre-development stage.

• The Manitoba government has announced it will go ahead and build a $2-billion hydroelectric power generation station at the Conawapa River site located in northern Manitoba.

• Communities will provide direction to their leadership, who will be attending the Leadership Review Meeting in Thunder Bay, to decide if there is interest in pursuing this project.
• The Ontario government hasn’t decided anything except that it wants more power to meet future energy needs.
• No routes have been chosen for further study until a decision is made at the Leadership Review Meeting, March 2007.
• Should the First Nations agree on a preferred route, and it is deemed feasible, a series of studies will be commissioned.
• Information on the Ontario-Manitoba Transmission Line Study can be found and downloaded from the CSC website.
• Should there be more than one (1) route preferred by communities only one (1) will be studied to assess its viability.
• Communities can put forward conditions and principles in providing consent to a preferred option.
• The only negotiations currently taking are between the two provinces of Manitoba and Ontario on a Power Purchase Agreement.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What kind of compensation package would we get?

If a feasibility study is done on a preferred route, and if there is a business case for the construction of a transmission line, then a compensation package by the First Nations can be negotiated. Negotiated packages will depend on the decision made by communities through elected leadership and the approach they wish to take as well as the level of participation they would be comfortable with.

Compensation packages could include potential compensation and/or financial participation, employment, training, business, economic development opportunities or possible long term solutions for community energy needs.