It could still be a month before power is restored to two Manitoba First Nations
Manitoba Hydro said it is making progress on restoring power to two Manitoba First Nations; however, it will still be a few more weeks until the work is complete.
Over the summer, wildfires damaged a remote power line that serves about 1,500 people in Little Grand Rapids and Pauingassi First Nations. Due to this damage, 89 poles need to be replaced and 35 other structures require repairs.
As of Wednesday, the Crown corporation said it has replaced 67 of the poles and repaired 30 of the structures, and the estimated restoration is two to four weeks.
Manitoba Hydro noted that because there is no road access to the damaged power line, all replacements poles, crossarms, hardware, and equipment need to be pre-assembled at a staging area near Bloodvein and then flown by helicopter to the damaged sections of the power line. A number of the replacement poles also need to be set in rock, which requires specialized drilling equipment.
The Crown corporation added that the restoration work has been made challenging due to the density of overgrown vegetation, and work continues to trim or remove the hazardous trees.
Hundreds of people from the two First Nations are still waiting for the work to be completed so they can return home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Evacuation order issued for some Fort McMurray neighbourhoods as wildfire nears
Four Fort McMurray neighbourhoods were ordered to evacuate as a wildfire gets closer to the city.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
BREAKING 'A remarkable time': After 8 years at Toronto Public Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa announces resignation
The doctor who led Toronto through the COVID-19 pandemic as the city’s top public health official is stepping down.
BREAKING Sask. man faces 60 charges in child exploitation investigation, with crimes dating back to 2005
Saskatchewan RCMP have revealed that a historic sexual assault investigation has led to the discovery of alleged crimes against children dating back to 2005.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
American sought after 'So I raped you' Facebook message detained in France on 2021 warrant
An American accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, 'So I raped you,' has been detained in France after a three-year search.
Full List Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
1 killed, 3 injured in head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.