What does Manitoba’s energy future look like—and how can we power possibility together?
Through the Manitoba Green Advantage (MGA) initiative, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce (MCC) convened Indigenous partners, business voices, policymakers, and community partners for Powering Possibility: Manitoba’s Energy Future.
On September 16, 2025, at Buffalo Crossing, FortWhyte Alive, in partnership with the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association with support from WSP, this gathering sparked an honest conversation about the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Building on the momentum of this success, the Chambers is looking to replicate this event format for other timely and relevant issues. By hosting smaller, targeted roundtables on industry-specific and policy-focused topics, MCC will create new opportunities to gather insights from members, gauge interest and support, raise awareness, and spark collaboration across Manitoba’s business community. These conversations will ensure that critical perspectives inform policy dialogue and help shape a stronger, more resilient economic future.
The Rising Need for Power
Manitoba’s electricity demand is projected to grow 62% by 2050, and new estimates show our province will require over 10,000 MW of additional capacity by the early 2040s. Hydro electricity will remain central to our system, but it cannot meet this demand on its own. In fact, Manitoba already imports power from other jurisdictions, including nuclear-generated electricity. Manitoba Hydro’s current call for proposals in wind energy is capped at just 600 MW. While valuable, wind cannot deliver the reliable, always-on power that businesses and communities require. The message was clear: if Manitoba wants to grow its green economy, attract investment, and meet its net-zero commitments, we must expand our power supply with dependable, diversified, and clean energy sources.
Insights from Leaders
Our speakers brought sharp perspectives on what’s possible: Ross Homeniuk, a partner with KPMG’s Global Infrastructure Advisory, underscored the scale of Manitoba’s power challenge. With aging infrastructure, long permitting timelines, and growing demand, Manitoba must plan now to avoid shortfalls. He highlighted nuclear—especially Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—as a proven, near-zero-emission option that could strengthen our grid, build energy sovereignty, and ensure long-term reliability. Nuclear already provides 13% of Canada’s electricity today, and other provinces are moving ahead with SMR development. Brian Wilcox, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, reflected on the Whiteshell Laboratories site, pointing to future opportunities in SMRs, critical minerals, and medical isotopes—industries with strong potential for Manitoba. Katie Haddlesey, Ontario Power Generation, shared how Indigenous partnerships have shaped her perspective, underscoring how early, respectful engagement produces stronger outcomes for communities and industry alike.
Awareness, Education, and Public Engagement
Participants agreed: too few Manitobans recognize that our province faces a looming power shortfall or that hydro is not limitless. Public perceptions of nuclear also remain dated, often shaped more by memory than fact. For example, the Fukushima disaster is widely remembered as a nuclear failure, yet most lives were lost to the tsunami—not radiation. Since then, nuclear safety standards worldwide have been strengthened. Just as important, the nuclear industry has developed rigorous and long-term strategies for managing waste. Spent fuel is securely stored, carefully monitored, and managed under strict federal oversight, with ongoing investments in research and innovation to ensure safety for future generations.
Policy and Business Priorities
Several priorities emerged from the discussion: Signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Small Modular Reactors does not commit Manitoba to building a reactor. What it does is open the door for our province to participate in research, strengthen supply chain opportunities, and stay aligned with other provinces that are already advancing nuclear options. Participants also emphasized the importance of providing transparent cost comparisons of clean energy technologies to give businesses and households clarity on long-term impacts. Finally, engaging Manitobans broadly through grassroots conversations that ripple outward was seen as critical.
A New Conversation, A Shared Opportunity
This roundtable was not about reaching conclusions, it was about creating space for honest dialogue. As MGA Program Director Christa Rust noted: “We’ve stretched past our assumed limits and opened a new conversation. From here, it’s about continuing to ask questions and exploring what’s possible together.”
The Road Ahead
For Manitoba, this is a pivotal moment. The choices we make today about power will determine whether we seize the opportunities of the green economy or risk being left behind. MCC sees its role as helping chart that path, pressing for government leadership to deliver a clear, long-term energy strategy, and ensuring transparent analysis so businesses can prepare with confidence.
Manitoba has the opportunity not just to meet demand, but to lead. By leveraging hydro and pairing it with other clean, reliable solutions, we can secure the abundant power needed to attract investment, grow our industries, and build a sustainable economy. With decisive action, Manitoba can define its place in Canada’s evolving energy landscape and power competitiveness, resiliency, and prosperity for generations to come.
