First Nation Sues Over Power Outage Disaster

Pimicikamak Cree Nation, also known as Cross Lake Band of Indians, has filed a lawsuit seeking class-action certification against Manitoba Hydro, the provincial government, and the federal government. The action stems from a four-day power outage in late December 2025 and early January 2026 that caused a "community-wide humanitarian emergency" for its approximately 8,000 residents.

The lawsuit alleges that Manitoba Hydro ignored warnings dating back to 2018 regarding the unreliability of the community's single, "old and vulnerable" power line. During the outage, approximately 4,000 residents were evacuated as homes sustained severe damage, including burst pipes, flooding, and mould contamination, necessitating major repairs or demolition for some residences.

Further allegations include human error delaying repairs and mismanagement by Manitoba Hydro during the restoration efforts. The lawsuit also disputes Manitoba Hydro's explanation for the outage, questioning the claim of shotgun pellet damage to marker balls. It asserts that Canada and Manitoba breached their fiduciary duty and Charter rights to the First Nation.

The Cross Lake Band of Indians seeks damages and a mandatory injunction compelling Manitoba Hydro to build a secondary power line. Additionally, the lawsuit calls for a court declaration requiring Canada to fund essential water, wastewater, and backup power infrastructure to prevent future crises.