FedNor funds will support the installation of a district heating system in Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
August 5, 2026 - Thunder Bay, ON - Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario - FedNor
The world is changing rapidly. The United States is upending global trade, artificial intelligence is changing the world of work, and climate change is intensifying. In response, Canada's new government is focused on what we can control: building an affordable, competitive, and sustainable Canadian economy.
Reliable, affordable clean energy is central to our mission. Canada's demand for electricity is expected to double by 2050, and how we meet that demand will shape our future; a future with stronger economic growth, stronger communities, and new opportunities across the country. Canada already has one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world. Now it is time to build on that strength and lead the global clean economy, creating a better world for generations to come.
This starts with targeted investments in Indigenous-led clean energy projects, helping communities build key infrastructure, local capacity, and advance their own economic priorities.
To that end, today the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for FedNor, and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, announced a total investment of $1,129,183 to Bingwi Neyaashi Anishnaabek (BNA) to help support the installation of a district biomass heating system that will provide reliable heat to buildings throughout the community.
Part of this investment includes $459,800 in funding previously announced in December of 2025. Today's expansion of that funding comes as a result of FedNor's Northern Ontario Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (NOICE), a Strategic Partnerships Initiative funded by Indigenous Services Canada and delivered by FedNor. One of NOICE's goals is to leverage additional investments from Government of Canada partners to support Indigenous-led clean energy projects. Today's announcement of $669,383 in new funding helps advance that objective.
This investment will support the planning and construction required to bring the system into operation. Once running, the heating system will use wood residue from the local sawmill as a renewable fuel source, creating a local circular economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and decreasing reliance on diesel-powered generators.
By partnering with Indigenous communities as they pursue their own development priorities, we are investing in more than infrastructure. We are investing in self-determination and in a Northern Ontario that is cleaner, stronger, and more self-resilient for generations to come.
