A Manitoba First Nation near Winnipeg struggles with frozen water systems and burst pipes after power was restored following a days-long outage, displacing residents.
Power Outage Affects Water System in Manitoba First Nation
The chief of a First Nation in Manitoba reports that about 4,000 residents cannot return to the community. Dozens more are set to leave because the water system has frozen after a power outage lasting several days.
Pimicikamak Cree Nation Chief David Monias stated that Manitoba Hydro fully restored power to the community on Friday. This followed a widespread outage caused by a downed power line last weekend.
After homes were re-energized, the remote First Nation discovered that its water plants, pumps, tanks, and pipes had frozen.
The chief noted that the frozen water system and burst pipes continue to threaten the well-being of community members, especially elders and children. Water has seeped into the sockets of some homes, leading to four fires in the community since the outage. Currently, 35 homes are unlivable.
Monias is renewing his calls for the immediate deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces’ Joint Task Force West. He made this request in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He seeks help with emergency logistical support, including water delivery and sanitation.
“We need help with major infrastructure,” he said during a virtual news conference on Saturday. “There’s a risk of people getting electrocuted because there’s water on the ground. We have flooring that’s cracked, we have windows that are cracked, we have appliances and toilets that are frozen. We’re running out of food. We’re running out of water.”
Manitoba’s government did not respond immediately to a request for comment on Saturday.
In a statement on Thursday, Public Safety Canada said it is actively monitoring the situation. They are working closely with Indigenous Services and the province of Manitoba.
Soraya Lemur, press secretary to Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski, added that federal and provincial officials, along with non-governmental and Indigenous organizations, are collaborating to support the community and address emerging needs.
Manitoba Hydro reported that it supplied a large generator to restore power to a water treatment plant. They also provided eight generators to power heavy-duty heaters for the community during the outage.
The outage began after a 300-meter-long power line that runs between two islands in the Nelson River broke.
Summary of Events
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Power Outage | Last Weekend | Downed power line caused widespread outage. |
| Power Restoration | Friday | Manitoba Hydro restored power to the community. |
| Water System Issues | Post-Restoration | Water plants and pipes frozen, 35 homes unlivable. |
| Emergency Support Request | Saturday | Chief Monias requested Canadian Armed Forces assistance. |
| Monitoring Statement | Thursday | Public Safety Canada is monitoring the situation. |
