Nunavut and Manitoba Sign MOU to Advance Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link
Agreement marks milestone for northern infrastructure and Inuit-led development
The Governments of Nunavut and Manitoba signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 7, 2026, formalizing their collaboration on the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link (KHFL), a proposed energy and broadband corridor between the two jurisdictions. The announcement was welcomed by Nukik Corporation, the Inuit-owned company leading the project, which described the MOU as a significant milestone in advancing the KHFL as a strategic and economic link for the region.
The MOU builds on several years of cooperation among the Governments of Nunavut and Manitoba, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA), and Nukik Corporation. It reaffirms Manitoba’s commitment to provide 50 megawatts of firm electric capacity to the KHFL project. The agreement also reiterates a shared commitment among the parties to pursue the development of the corridor and to continue engaging with federal authorities for support and regulatory approvals.
Kono Tattuinee, President of the Kivalliq Inuit Association and majority owner of Nukik Corporation, stated that the MOU reinforces a strong partnership built to advance what he described as a transformative nation-building project. According to Tattuinee, the KHFL represents more than infrastructure, serving as a foundation for Inuit self-determination, long-term economic opportunity, and stronger interregional connections between Nunavut and the rest of Canada.
The KHFL is positioned as the most advanced northern intertie project in Canada and is fully Inuit-owned through Nukik Corporation. If completed, the project will deliver Nunavut’s first connection to Canada’s main electricity grid and terrestrial fibre network. This development is expected to strengthen energy security, improve digital connectivity, reduce reliance on imported diesel, and enable long-term economic growth across the Kivalliq region.
Gloria Uluqsi, President of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., described the KHFL as one of Canada’s most advanced Inuit-led projects and a nation-building opportunity for the country. Uluqsi emphasized that the agreement reflects the shared commitment of Inuit organizations and the two governments to advance the project. She also noted the importance of continued collaboration and federal leadership in realizing the full potential of the initiative for future generations.
Nunavut is Canada’s largest jurisdiction by land area and remains the only region in the country without an overland connection to the rest of Canada. The KHFL is intended to address this infrastructure gap by linking Nunavut to Manitoba’s hydroelectric grid and high-capacity fibre-optic network. Currently, the Kivalliq region consumes about 138 million litres of diesel annually for electricity generation and relies primarily on satellite communications. Project proponents argue that the KHFL will provide a practical, long-term, and domestic solution by connecting the region to clean and reliable Manitoba electricity and high-speed fibre infrastructure.
Anne-Raphaelle Audouin, CEO of Nukik Corporation, stated that the MOU marks another important step toward making the KHFL a reality. Audouin emphasized that the project extends beyond diesel replacement, characterizing it as vital strategic regional infrastructure that will create conditions for long-term Inuit-led economic growth. She expressed interest in continuing to work with all partners to advance the project for the benefit of Nunavut, Manitoba, and Canada as a whole.
Nukik Corporation describes itself as an Inuit-owned company dedicated to advancing the KHFL, a clean energy and broadband infrastructure initiative. The company’s stated mission is to promote Inuit-led development, foster regional partnerships, and create sustainable economic opportunities in the North.
The MOU follows several years of planning and engagement with local and regional stakeholders, including the federal government. Stakeholders have identified the KHFL as a means to reduce the region’s dependence on diesel, improve critical infrastructure, and unlock new economic opportunities. The need for reliable and affordable energy and broadband services has been widely cited as a barrier to economic development and quality of life in the region.
Proponents of the project point to the potential for the KHFL to facilitate new investment, support local businesses, and improve access to essential services such as healthcare and education through enhanced digital connectivity. The initiative is also viewed as an opportunity to advance reconciliation by supporting Inuit self-determination and enabling greater local control over economic development.
The agreement does not specify a construction timeline or total project cost, but it signals a coordinated approach between Nunavut and Manitoba to seek federal involvement and to move the project through subsequent planning and regulatory stages. The parties have indicated that continued engagement with federal authorities will be important for securing necessary approvals and funding.
The MOU is the latest development in ongoing efforts to address infrastructure challenges in northern Canada. For Nunavut, the project represents the first potential overland link to the southern Canadian grid, which stakeholders argue is critical for energy security and cost containment. Manitoba’s involvement is framed as an extension of the province’s hydroelectric capacity and fibre network into a neighbouring jurisdiction, potentially yielding regional economic benefits.
The collaborative model underpinning the KHFL, with strong Inuit ownership and leadership, is cited by project advocates as a distinguishing feature. The partnership structure is intended to ensure that local interests are represented and that economic benefits are equitably shared among Inuit organizations, territorial and provincial governments, and other stakeholders.
As the project moves forward, the parties to the MOU have expressed the intention to continue working together and to seek broad-based support, including from the federal government. The outcome of these efforts will determine the pace and scope of future development, as well as the extent to which the KHFL can achieve its stated objectives related to energy security, economic growth, and Indigenous self-determination.