NDP defends involvement of U.S. company in Hydro project

A U.S. company that donated to Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration could potentially build Manitoba Hydro's proposed $3-billion natural gas turbines, sparking criticism from environmental groups. The NDP government has been pushing back against tariffs, leading to concerns about the turbine proposal. James Wilt, policy development manager with Climate Action Team Manitoba, argues the Kinew government should hold U.S. companies to the same standards as it does for other products, such as Canadian alcohol, when considering foreign investments.

GE Vernova, the company that donated to Trump's inauguration, has a gas turbine manufacturing plant in South Carolina and donated $500,000 to the Trump Vance inaugural committee, according to U.S. Federal Election Commission records. Manitoba Hydro, the province's independent energy regulator, has said three turbines would produce 750 megawatts of power, which is necessary to offset a projected energy shortfall by 2030.

The Public Utilities Board is scheduled to make recommendations to the government on the turbines' feasibility in the coming weeks. Finance Minister Adrien Sala stated that only two vendors met the Crown corporation's requirements, GE Vernova and Germany-based Siemens, and only GE Vernova submitted a final bid. He emphasized that further delays in selecting a vendor would prevent Manitoba from ensuring reliable energy in the low 2030s.

The Premier, Wab Kinew, has encouraged Manitobans to "buy Canadian," but GE Canada has not emerged as a preferred vendor due to global supply chain constraints and the competitive nature of the AI data centre boom. Premier Kinew appeared to suggest that a turbine deal with GE Vernova would receive more scrutiny if companies from Trump's America were not eligible for future contracts.