Manitoba First Nation Sues Hydro, Governments Over Crippling Winter Blackout
A remote First Nation in northern Manitoba, left without power for four days in the dead of winter, has filed a class-action lawsuit against Manitoba Hydro, the provincial government, and the federal government. The suit alleges years of negligence, ignored warnings, and a botched emergency response that turned a power outage into a humanitarian crisis.
The Cross Lake Band of Indians, also known as Pimicikamak Cree Nation, filed its statement of claim in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench on Tuesday. The community of roughly 8,000 people, located about 500 kilometers north of Winnipeg, is seeking certification as a class action. Chief David Monias told reporters on Wednesday that the outage, which lasted from late December 28 to January 2, created a “community-wide humanitarian emergency.”
What happened during the winter power outage?
Approximately 4,000 residents were evacuated. Pipes froze and burst in homes, water pumps and tanks failed, and flooding led to widespread mold contamination. Monias said the damage was severe and lasting. “The harm continued long after the lights came back on,” he said. About 650 evacuees remain in hotels in Thompson, Brandon, and Winnipeg, unable to return. Some homes required major repairs, others needed complete replacement, and a few were so badly damaged they had to be demolished.
Why is the community blaming Manitoba Hydro?
The lawsuit alleges the power outage was entirely foreseeable. The First Nation had been warning Manitoba Hydro since at least 2018 that its electrical infrastructure was “unreliable, vulnerable, and inadequate.” Councillor Shirley Robinson stated that Hydro acknowledged the community had suffered nine power outages in 2018 alone by July of that year, including five that month. Warnings continued from 2022 to 2025, but the community was left dependent on “one old and vulnerable power line,” despite repeated requests for backup power and better protection.
The suit claims Hydro chose the closest route for the power line from the Jenpeg generating station, crossing muskeg, rivers, and difficult terrain, rather than the more accessible route along the highway. This choice, the lawsuit argues, increased the community’s vulnerability. The First Nation also alleges human error delayed repairs. “Hydro first found the break, but then pointed crews to the wrong location on a map,” said Councillor David Muswaggon in a statement. “Crews were sent to the wrong location, backup power was late, and the restoration itself was mishandled.”
What about the cause of the outage?
Weeks after power was restored, Manitoba Hydro said shotgun pellet damage was found on aerial marker balls attached to the line. The lawsuit calls this claim misleading. The Crown corporation later told community leaders that the power went out after aluminum strands in the conductor failed and melted steel inside a marker ball. Hydro admitted it “could not explain why the failure occurred” and that the outage “remains a mystery,” according to the suit. The lawsuit alleges that this inability to provide a “non-negligent explanation” suggests a breach of duty and establishes negligence.
Hydro CEO Allan Danroth said in June that an investigation did not conclude that firearm damage or vandalism caused the failure. The community says it has been unable to obtain the full investigation report.
Who else is being sued and what is being demanded?
The lawsuit accuses the governments of Manitoba and Canada of negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. It also alleges a breach of the Charter right to be free from discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, and the right to life, liberty, and security. The First Nation is seeking unspecified damages, which lawyer Brian Meronek said will be in the multiple millions of dollars. The suit also demands a mandatory injunction to force Hydro to immediately build a secondary or backup power line. It further seeks a court declaration that Canada must build or fund water, water treatment, and backup power infrastructure to prevent future disasters. The lawsuit also claims untreated or partially treated sewage was discharged into a nearby waterway after the outage.
None of the allegations have been proven in court. Manitoba Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura said the Crown corporation will “defend itself vigorously.” A provincial spokesperson declined to comment, and Canada’s justice department said it is reviewing the lawsuit.