Governments of Yukon and British Columbia sign agreement to advance Yukon-BC grid connect

Press Release

May 23, 2025

This is a joint news release between the Government of Yukon and Government of British Columbia.

Today, the governments of Yukon and British Columbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding which will guide intergovernmental collaboration through the exploration and planning phases of connecting the Yukon and British Columbia electrical grids.

The Yukon-BC Grid Connect would unlock energy security and economic prosperity through facilitating two-way electricity transmission between the two jurisdictions. The Memorandum of Understanding between governments of Yukon and British Columbia commits to collaboration throughout the project, as guided by the shared principles of:

• strengthening Canadian self-sufficiency, security and resilience through development of economic and clean energy corridors which assure prosperity and energy security for present and future generations;
• advancing reconciliation with affected First Nations, including through Indigenous partnerships and ownership;
• promoting mutual economic prosperity through delivery of cost-effective renewable energy for critical mineral and other industrial development; and
• rapidly increasing renewable energy generation to meet our respective energy demands associated with growing populations, accelerating electrification and net-zero carbon emission goals for 2050.

The governments agree to identify and pursue opportunities for collaboration to increase renewable energy generation in western Canada. This may include building on the successes, lessons learned and partnership possibilities of the North Coast Transmission Line to Terrace and future extensions further north to serve critical mines, port expansions and resource development, while supporting future potential grid connections with the Yukon.

The governments of Yukon and British Columbia look forward to collaborating with First Nations in the Yukon and northwest British Columbia, the Government of Canada and stakeholders on this important nation-building project.

Yukon Development Corporation and Yukon Energy are also exploring other opportunities to increase power generation in the Yukon through discussions with First Nations and stakeholders, with a focus on increasing winter capacity to meet the growing demand.

Yukon-BC Grid Connect is generational investment in energy security and economic prosperity for the Yukon and northern British Columbia. Together, we will seek federal support to advance this clean electricity corridor for economic growth and critical mineral development in the Yukon and northern BC and build on the successes of BC’s North Coast Transmission Line. I thank Premier Eby for his continued collaboration in this nation-building opportunity to advance reconciliation, national security, arctic sovereignty, climate change mitigation and economic prosperity.

Premier of the Yukon Ranj Pillai

In the face of external threats to our sovereignty and our prosperity, we are strengthening our economy and our energy security by leveraging one of our greatest assets: our abundant clean electricity. Through the Yukon-BC Grid Connect, we have a generational opportunity to boost our clean-energy supply to power our growing communities and industries while also advancing reconciliation and our climate goals. I want to thank Premier Pillai for his leadership and partnership on this project, which is the direct result of our Team Canada approach.

Premier of British Columbia David Eby

Quick facts

• The Government of British Columbia supported Government of Yukon’s application for Critical Minerals Infrastructure Funding for the Yukon-British Columbia Grid Connect project which aims to address gaps in clean energy infrastructure that limit critical mineral development by advancing the pre-construction requirements to develop a transmission line.
• To advance Yukon-BC Grid Connect, the Yukon Development Corporation received $40 million through Government of Canada’s Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund and committed to $13 million from the Yukon Development Corporation Fund, for a total budget of $53 million over five years. The Contribution Agreement was signed February 14, 2025.
• The Yukon is an isolated electrical grid, not connected to the North American electrical grid.

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

Kaila de Boer
Communications, Yukon Development Corporation
867-332-4041
kaila.deboer@yukon.ca

Office of BC Premier
Media Relations
premier.media@gov.bc.ca

IBF5