The leadership of a First Nation in the southern part of Manitoba is urging the provincial authorities to eliminate a natural gas pipeline that traverses their land, stating that it poses risks to the community without offering any advantages. Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation has conveyed in a formal letter that they are prepared to take legal action to safeguard their territory if the government and Manitoba Hydro fail to initiate actions for the removal of the gas line. This pipeline segment cuts across approximately 1.5 kilometers of Roseau’s primary reserve.
The correspondence, directed to Premier Wab Kinew and Hydro CEO Allan Danroth, emphasized that the gas line provides “no economic value” to the community while exposing it to potential safety hazards like fires or explosions. According to a Hydro report from 2024, even though the line passes through Roseau River, the First Nation does not have access to natural gas services for its residences.
Coun. Evan Roberts of Roseau River, the author of the letter on behalf of the chief and council, highlighted that the gas line does not serve the community’s energy needs but merely transits through to cater to neighboring areas. The gas main is situated along Provincial Road 201, crossing beneath the Red River, and is slated to connect two segments of a new 36.6-kilometer natural gas transmission line linking facilities near Dominion City and Altona.
Construction of the gas transmission line, approved by the province’s environmental approvals branch in March, is scheduled to commence this summer. The 2024 Hydro report, conducted on behalf of Centra Gas, indicated that the new transmission line will enhance the gas network capacity in southern Manitoba to meet the growing demand from urban expansion and agricultural sectors.
Although the report assured that there would be no ground disturbance in Roseau’s territory due to the project, concerns raised by the First Nation encompassed issues such as increased construction-related traffic and safety protocols in case of leaks or explosions. Coun. Roberts cited past incidents of ruptures and explosions in southern Manitoba, underscoring the community’s reluctance to accept such risks.
Manitoba Hydro and the provincial government are currently reviewing the matter following the receipt of the letter. Roseau River First Nation has also questioned the possibility of revenue sharing, employment opportunities, and training provisions stemming from the project, expressing a desire to rectify historical disparities in benefiting from land use agreements.
The First Nation has explicitly stated in the letter that any unauthorized access to their land will be deemed trespassing, with plans to prevent Hydro personnel from conducting maintenance or upgrades on the gas line without proper consent. The leadership emphasized their commitment to upholding treaty rights and signaled the intention to retract previous resolutions linked to collaboration with Hydro, awaiting a response from the province.