Manitoba Hydro electricity export application

Summary#

This page collects several commission notices published in the Canada Gazette on June 22, 2024. The main item is an application from Manitoba Hydro to export electricity to the United States. The page also lists two proposed charity registration revocations by the Canada Revenue Agency, and several procurement complaints being investigated by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.

What it does#

• Manitoba Hydro has applied to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) for permission to export electricity as a border accommodation to Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc.
  • The export would run for five years, from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2029.
  • It would allow up to 3 000 kW of power and 26 352 MWh of firm energy per year.
  • The CER is asking the public and interested parties for written views. The deadline to file submissions is July 22, 2024, and the applicant may reply by August 6, 2024.
• The Canada Revenue Agency gave notice of proposed revocations of registration for two charities for failing to meet parts of the Income Tax Act:
  • Engelking Foundation (Edmonton).
  • Société Québécoise de la Trisomie-21 (Terrebonne, QC).
  • The revocations are effective on the date of publication.
• The Canadian International Trade Tribunal is opening inquiries into several procurement complaints. Complainants and key points:
  • SPX Aids to Navigation LLC: alleges problems in a PWGSC procurement for rotating beacons and related equipment.
  • Oracle Canada ULC: disputes how Shared Services Canada set mandatory criteria for a cloud services procurement.
  • C-CORE: contests disqualification in a Natural Resources Canada geospatial contract.
  • Great Lakes Maskwa Aviation General Partner Corp. (GLMAC): challenges a rejected bid for air charter services procured by PWGSC.
  • Dave Stewart: alleges unfair evaluation in a Canadian Tourism Commission procurement for video and photo production.

Who's affected#

• Utilities and power customers in Manitoba and nearby regions who might be concerned about cross-border exports or local supply.
• Manitoba Hydro and Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc. as the parties to the proposed export.
• People who donate to or benefit from the two charities named; those charities themselves.
• Companies that bid on the government procurements mentioned and the government departments that ran those competitions: Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC), Shared Services Canada (SSC), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC).
• The broader supplier community that follows government contracting practices and fairness in procurement decisions.

Why it matters#

• Cross-border electricity exports can affect local power flows, market arrangements, and planning for supply and demand. The CER is seeking public input so concerns about effects on other provinces or on domestic buyers can be considered.
• Revoking a charity’s registration removes its ability to issue official donation receipts and can affect funding for its programs and its donors.
• Procurement inquiries can lead to changes in contract awards, re-bids, or adjustments to how government departments run future tenders. That matters to taxpayers and businesses that compete for public contracts.