Yesterday saw the announcement from the Manitoba Hydro Board that it's too late to change the route of the Bi-Pole III line.

Provincial Cabinet Minister Ian Wishart says this doesn't leave Manitoba in a great position.

"It costs us more to stop than it does to finish the job. So, all of the materials have been ordered, a lot of the work has been done -- we knew some of the work had been done -- and a lot of the materials ordered were custom. We own them, whether we use them or not, so the decision has been made to continue on even though it may not be the choice that many Manitobans want."

Wishart says the cost of Bi-Pole's likely in the 5 billion dollar range, which could lead to higher rates for Hydro customers.

"That has to be paid by someone, it's a debt that Manitoba Hydro owes, and so there'll probably be some emphasis on higher rates. That's Public Utilities Board prerogative, in terms of setting the rates, so I think it's fair to say that we'll all be expecting to pay higher rates because of this significant debt that the previous government's burdened Manitoba Hydro with."

Wishart adds the government will look into markets where Manitoba power can be sold to mitigate the cost, but still believes Bi-Pole will be one of Manitoba's biggest burdens in the next decade.