Small population, big infrastructure needs: Northern Canada facing power struggles

Representatives from all three Canadian territories say the need to improve their aging electricity grids has reached a critical level requiring billions of dollars from the federal government to update, and in some cases, keep the lights on.

Yukon’s energy minister says the need is “no longer theoretical” after a frigid week in December nearly required rolling blackouts in Whitehorse.

Temperatures nearing -50 C saw demand hit 90 per cent of what could be generated, at a time outside of peak hours, Ted Laking said.

Industrial consumers like mines were already disconnected and officials with the city and the territory were trying to decide what could go next.

In the end, the blackouts weren’t required, but Laking said the experience was a sign of problems on the horizon.

“We don’t have time to sit around and hypothesize about these things. It’s no longer theoretical. It is a real and serious risk for the North,” he said.