Premier John Main and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew signed the memorandum of understanding in Arviat. The governments say it commits them to ongoing collaboration, information sharing and joint planning on Arctic security and sovereignty, economic growth, education, health care, transportation, broadband, mining training and resource development. A senior-officials implementation committee is to prepare a work plan and report annually. Source↗ Source↗

The agreement formally renews a government-to-government channel for work affecting the Kivalliq’s energy, internet and transportation connections to Manitoba. It specifically names coordinated investment exploration for the proposed Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link and Port of Churchill Plus, which could affect future supply routes and development planning. The hydro-fibre proposal is intended to connect Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove to Manitoba electricity and fibre networks. Source↗ Source↗

The Manitoba-Nunavut Implementation Committee is expected to develop a work plan and issue annual progress reports. The July agreement itself does not set deadlines, allocate money, award contracts, authorize construction or make a final decision on either named infrastructure proposal. Source↗ Source↗

Manitoba said in February that it had committed 50 megawatts of power to the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link in April 2025, while both governments continued to seek federal capital support for the project and related Manitoba upgrades. That earlier announcement also described the link as an Inuit-led project. Source↗ Source↗