Needs for and Alternatives To Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Development Plan
Alternatives To Manitoba Hydro's Preferred Development Plan
The Government of Manitoba requested the Public Utilities Board of Manitoba (PUB) to conduct a review of the Needs For and Alternatives To (NFAT Review) of Manitoba Hydro’s $20 billion dollar Preferred Development Plan (PDP), and issue a Report to the Minister responsible. The objective of the review was to provide an overall assessment as to whether or not the Plan was in the best long-term interest of the Province of Manitoba when compared to other options and alternatives.
The TyPlan scope of work (SOW) was specific to the socio-economic components of the NFAT, included the following:
- Critical analysis of the socio-economic impacts and benefits of Manitoba Hydro's PDP and alternative plans including an examination potential effects to the people of Manitoba, especially Northern and Aboriginal communities, including employment, training and business opportunities, infrastructure and services, personnel family and community life and resource use, specifically noting:
- Economic impact assessment modelling to determine sector economic impacts, impacts to provincial GDP, long term and short term indirect and induced employment opportunities;
- Determining gross provincial financial benefits by examining benefits over and costs over the life of the project;
- Determining Canadian benefits;
- Northern and aboriginal community-based impacts in terms of employment opportunities, incomes, community tax base, skills development and community business opportunities; and,
- Community access improvements and related health, education and cultural benefits.
- Consider the economic displacement impacts and effects on consumer spending to the extent consumers will face due to increased electricity rates as a result of the PDP.
- Identify and evaluate the socio-economic impact of key alternative scenarios, and provide a comparison table between the PDP and such scenarios.
- Provide high level analysis on how other Canadian jurisdictions maximize provincial economic benefits from the development of large-scale resource projects, and assess if the PDP provides the highest level of socio-economic benefit to Manitobans.