Critical Power Shortage Looming

The mining industry is bright in northwestern Ontario but one major hurdle remains; a lack of electricity.
Delegates attending the annual Kenora District Municipal Association Conference warned of a crisis situation looming.
Stats released at the Conference show 16 mines currently in exploration, evaluation or development; Rubicon and Goldcorp expecting to be on-line in 2014.
However, critics say the provincial government is dragging its feet on the construction of a transmission line and these projects could be either delayed or even scrapped.
They say that will cost the regional economy and the province millions of dollars.
There are even fears the province doubts that some of these up and coming mines will actually come to fruition.
Common Voice Energy Task Force Co-Chair Iain Angus warns of rolling blackouts across the northwest as early as 2015 and officials in Red Lake, Ear Falls and Pickle Lake state they are in a crisis situation.
The Ontario Power Authority says they are studying the best option to bring power to the north and the Ring of Fire.
The OPA says a transmission line from the Dryden area to Pickle Lake should be on-line in roughly two years.