Statement: Indigenous Power Coalition Welcomes First Ministers' Commitment to Advance Canada's Electricity Interties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Indigenous Power Coalition Welcomes First Ministers' Commitment to Advance Canada's Electricity Interties. IPC states Indigenous leadership will be essential to turning today's commitments into successful transmission projects.
July 23, 2026
The Indigenous Power Coalition (IPC) welcomes today's joint statement from Canada's First Ministers recognizing the critical role that interprovincial electricity transmission will play in strengthening affordability, reliability, energy security, and economic growth across Canada.
The commitment to advance regional electricity cooperation and accelerate the development of electricity interties represents an important milestone in Canada's energy transition. As electricity demand continues to grow, strengthening connections between provinces and territories will be essential to building a more resilient, reliable, and integrated electricity system.
"Today's announcement reflects growing recognition that regional electricity collaboration is essential to Canada's economic future," said Kwatuuma Cole Sayers, Executive Director of the Indigenous Power Coalition. "Canada has an important opportunity to move from discussing the need for interprovincial transmission to advancing projects that deliver lasting benefits for First Nations, provinces and territories, and future generations."
The First Ministers' statement establishes a clear direction for governments to work together on electricity interties and provides meaningful momentum toward implementation. As governments, utilities, regulators, and Indigenous Nations begin the next phase of this work, collaboration will be essential to overcoming the regulatory, jurisdictional, and financial challenges that have historically limited progress.
"Successfully delivering the next generation of transmission infrastructure will require strong partnerships," said Sayers. "Indigenous Nations have a unique and important role to play in shaping these projects through leadership, partnership, and long-term participation. When Indigenous Nations are meaningfully involved from the outset, projects are strengthened through shared decision-making, greater certainty, and outcomes that reflect the interests of the communities they serve."
IPC believes today's announcement marks the beginning of an important new phase of regional electricity collaboration. Building new transmission infrastructure across Canada presents an opportunity to develop new models of collaboration that recognize Indigenous Nations as long-term partners in planning, governance, and project development.
Through its work with Indigenous Nations and partners across Canada, IPC is advancing Indigenous-led approaches to electricity infrastructure, policy development, and regional collaboration. Together with the Western Transmission Catalysts, IPC has convened Indigenous leaders, governments, utilities, researchers, and industry partners to identify practical pathways for advancing interprovincial transmission and strengthening Canada's electricity system.
IPC looks forward to working collaboratively with governments, Indigenous Nations, utilities, regulators, and industry partners to help translate today's commitments into successful projects that strengthen Canada's electricity future while creating lasting benefits for Indigenous Nations and all Canadians.
About the Indigenous Power Coalition
The Indigenous Power Coalition (IPC) is a national Indigenous-led organization advancing Indigenous leadership in Canada's electricity future. IPC works with Indigenous Nations, governments, utilities, industry, and research partners to support the development of reliable, affordable, and resilient electricity systems through Indigenous-led collaboration, policy innovation, and strategic partnerships.
