CROSS LAKE — A high-level delegation of federal, provincial, and Indigenous leaders is arriving in Pimicikamak Cree Nation today, January 7, 2026, to assess the devastating aftermath of a prolonged power outage that has crippled the community’s essential infrastructure. The delegation includes Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Federal Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs Rebecca Chartrand, and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak. The visit comes as the northern community, located 530 kilometers north of Winnipeg, struggles with a “massive infrastructure breakdown” that has left over 1,300 homes in jeopardy and forced thousands to evacuate.
The crisis began on December 28, 2025, when a 300-meter-long transmission line spanning the Nelson River snapped during a severe winter storm. Due to extreme cold and treacherous terrain, Manitoba Hydro required four days to restore power, during which time the community’s water and sewage systems completely froze. As heat was restored, the thawing process triggered a secondary catastrophe: pipes across the nation began to burst and explode. Chief David Monias has described “horrific” scenes inside residential buildings, where raw sewage has backed up into bathtubs and toilets, flooding homes and creating a dire public health hazard.
The situation has reached a breaking point, with at least four homes lost to fires after water leaked into electrical switchboards and sockets. Schools remain shuttered, and approximately 2,000 residents have been evacuated to hotels in Winnipeg, Thompson, and Norway House, with many homes now declared officially uninhabitable. In response to the escalating emergency, Chief Monias has made an urgent plea to Prime Minister Mark Carney for the deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Chief emphasized that the military’s logistical support is vital for clean water delivery, sanitation efforts, and the building of temporary shelters.
Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Lisa Naylor confirmed that the provincial government has formally requested federal military assistance to aid in the recovery. Preliminary estimates suggest that repairs to the community’s aging infrastructure could exceed $45 million. As the leadership delegation tours the damage today, the focus remains on ensuring resident safety and establishing a “war-footing” recovery plan to restore heat, water, and dignity to the people of Pimicikamak.
