North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council Supports Regional Action to Strengthen Atlantic Canada’s Energy Future
Miramichi, NB – The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC) is supporting a new regional energy report calling for stronger coordination across Atlantic Canada. The report, An Atlantic Canadian Energy Future, was developed by the Atlantic Energy Collective, a pan-Atlantic initiative representing more than 30 organizations across utilities, Indigenous partners and Rightsholders, industry, labour, research institutions, and national energy policy organizations. Prepared by Crux Energy Consulting, the report presents a framework for strengthening regional energy collaboration to address mounting pressures on Atlantic Canada’s electricity and natural gas systems, including reliability risks, affordability challenges, infrastructure renewal requirements, and constraints on economic growth.
Although the Atlantic Canada provinces are physically connected, planning and investment decisions are still largely made on a province-by-province basis. The report concludes that greater regional coordination will be needed to manage system risks, large-scale capital investments, and economic opportunities across Atlantic Canada.
Key Recommendations
The report outlines a framework for collaboration beginning with:
- Creating a regional all-energy model and integrated resource plan (IRP);
- Assessing electric and natural gas interconnections regionally to identify shared risks, cost efficiencies, and economic opportunities;
- Testing governance options based on required system functions rather than predetermined institutional models; and
- Phasing implementation, with clear decision points before advancing to more formal arrangements.
- The approach does not call for any immediate structural changes. Instead, it focuses first on shared technical and economic analysis of the region’s energy system to build trust, reduce duplication, and demonstrate tangible value across provinces.
Why This Matters Now
The report identifies several factors that make regional energy coordination increasingly urgent, including:
- Rising affordability pressures and increasing energy burden for households and businesses;
- Declining system capacity margins and growing reliability risks;
- Limited energy capacity to support industrial growth;
- Major infrastructure renewal decisions, including generation and transmission; and Increasing federal expectations that regional alignment is necessary to enable large-scale investments.
Without greater coordination, the report notes that Atlantic Canada could face continued duplication of infrastructure, higher system costs, and missed economic opportunities.
“Atlantic Canada has an opportunity to lead in the global energy transition, but we will only succeed if we work together as a region. For Mi’kmaq communities, this is about more than infrastructure. It’s about creating long-term opportunity for our people, building strong partnerships, and ensuring the energy decisions we make today support our youth and the next seven generations,” said Jim Ward, General Manager of the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council.
About the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
The NSMTC is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing the health, sustainability, and economic prosperity of its Member Nations. The NSMTC primarily serves the Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar), Oinpegitjoig (Pabineau), Natoaganeg (Eel Ground), Metepenagiag (Red Bank), L’nui Menikuk (Indian Island), Tjipõgtõtjg (Buctouche), and Amlamgog (Fort Folly) while extending support to 25 additional First Nations across Atlantic Canada. The council provides service delivery, technical support, and capacity-building in water and waste management, housing and infrastructure, post-secondary education funding, training and employment, community development, clean energy opportunities, environmental stewardship, and health service coordination.
About the Atlantic Energy Collective
The Atlantic Energy Collective is a region-wide initiative of more than 30 organizations representing utilities, Indigenous partners and Rightsholders, industry, labour interests, research institutions, and national policy organizations. The Collective was formed in recognition that Atlantic Canada’s current energy framework cannot respond at the scale and pace required to sustain affordability, reliability, and economic growth.
The Collective’s work is intended as a cross-sector foundation to support informed intergovernmental discussions and durable regional action.
About Crux Energy Consulting
Crux Energy Consulting is a Canadian advisory firm focused on strategy for the energy and utility sector. The firm works with clients to navigate complex market, customer, policy, and competitive dynamics and make informed decisions in a rapidly evolving industry.
Read the Full Report
To read the full report, An Atlantic Canadian Energy Future, visit: https://nsmtc.ca/an-atlantic-canadian-energy-future/
Media Inquiries
For media-related questions, contact:
Vanessa McLaughlin Communications Officer, North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council vanessamclaughlin@nsmtc.ca | 506.210.1705
Link to downloadable release: https://nsmtc.ca/release-nsmtc-supports-regional-action-to-strengthen-atlantic-energy/