Power project to create "long-term assets".

• Author: Quesnel, Joseph
• Position: Special Report: Business - Aboriginal Communities

The proposed development of two power generation sites by the Pic Mobert First Nation is an important economic advancement for all Aboriginal communities, says an economic development official with the Northern Ontario band.

"Rather than always having to find out what our small role will be with private partners, we will own the development rights to this for the first time," says Norm Jaehrling, an economic development officer for the community and project co-ordinator for the energy development project. "For the first time, we're in the driver's seat."

Pic Mobert First Nation, an Aboriginal community located on Highway 17 halfway between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, is pushing ahead with plans to finalize a partnership agreement allowing them to develop an existing MNR dam and construct a new facility on the White River.

The band owns rights to three power sites located on the White River, and for years was unable to exploit the opportunities. Until the power market was deregulated under the Tories, says Jaehrling, private partners had a tough time even getting limited partnerships with the former Ontario Hydro monopoly. Now that private-sector players can enter the market, the community has jumped at the opportunity to develop and provide hydro power through two of their sites. The price cap for electricity placed on power producers by the government also prevented Pic Mobert from moving ahead.

Since 2003, the community has benefited from a $63,000 funding grant from the federal Ministry of Indian Affairs, to explore the viability of the site. Since then, they have been able to assess the vertical drops and the hydrology of the sites to determine their...