Robinson noted that Manitoba Hydro acknowledged nine separate power outages in 2018 alone, including five within a single month.
She also contested earlier claims by Manitoba Hydro attributing the conductor failure to shotgun pellet damage, pointing out that equipment analysis indicated internal electrical failure instead.
Councilor David Muswaggon criticized Manitoba Hydro's emergency management, noting that operational missteps exacerbated the crisis.
“In our lawsuit, we allege that Hydro first found the [line] break, but then pointed crews to the wrong location on a map,” Muswaggon said in a statement read at the press conference.
He stressed that poor logistical coordination prolonged the community's exposure to freezing temperatures.
“Crews were sent to the wrong location, backup power was late, and the restoration itself was mishandled,” Muswaggon said.
He concluded that official negligence transformed a technical defect into a human emergency. “This was not only a broken line.
The lack of planning and mistakes during the response made a serious emergency even worse,” Muswaggon said.
Legal counsel representing the First Nation emphasized that the failure was the product of long-standing systemic neglect.
“The warning signs were there for many years,” said Jeremy McKay, a lawyer representing the First Nation.
Lawyer Brian Meronek stated during the briefing that while the statement of claim does not list a specific financial figure, monetary damages sought will reach multiple millions of dollars.
The lawsuit requests a mandatory injunction forcing Manitoba Hydro to construct and fund a secondary power line, while compelling Ottawa to fund a new water treatment facility for the First Nation.
Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura stated that the Crown corporation plans to defend itself vigorously in court, maintaining that power loss is an inherent operational risk.
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Spokespersons for the Manitoba provincial government and the federal Justice Department declined to comment on the specific allegations, citing ongoing court proceedings.
