Manitoba's Limestone generating station produces clean sustainable power, something an east-west line could provide Ontario, if infrastructure dollars were available to build it.

Manitoba will be watching — but not holding its breath — for signs Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's fiscal update Thursday contains infrastructure money for the stalled east-west hydroelectric power grid.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in March 2007 that Ontario could use a part of its $586-million share of the $1.5-billion Canada ecoTrust fund to begin work on an east-west electrical transmission connection with Manitoba that would allow for the flow of new, clean hydroelectric power to the Ontario market.

Ontario, however, said earlier this week that those funds have not been earmarked for the stalled power grid. Meanwhile, Manitoba has $54 million set aside for the project, which Manitoba Finance Minister Greg Selinger said should be on Ottawa's radar as the federal government allocates infrastructure dollars to boost the economy.

"We have discussed it many times," Selinger said. "[Flaherty] is very aware of our interest … and we will continue to make our position known that we think an east-west grid is part of a long-term nation-building exercise in this country for energy security."

Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, the former finance minister, said the east-west power grid makes sense as an infrastructure project in difficult economic times.

"What's wrong with this idea?" Goodale asked. "It's been talked about, it's been examined, it's been mentioned in budgets, it's been announced in a number of news releases. What's the holdup?"

Goodale accused the Harper government of dropping the ball on the project, leaving provinces like Manitoba exporting surplus power to the U.S. instead of to Canadian neighbours.

"It's a bit remarkable that it is far easier to export energy out of Canada than it is to move it east and west across Canada," he said.

Ontario NDP Leader Howard Hampton said the east-west grid is overdue, but unlikely in the short term.

"I think the east-west grid is dead for the next 15 years," Hampton said, noting Ontario seems focused on the nuclear option.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer has been pitching the notion of an east-west power grid since 2004, partly to justify construction of the Conawapa hydro dam in northern Manitoba.

Securing a power deal with Ontario would enable Manitoba to start construction on Conawapa, a 1,250-megawatt dam on the Nelson River that could power about one million homes in Ontario.

The transmission lines would run from northern Manitoba to Sudbury or Thunder Bay in Ontario. Another possibility would be lines running from northern Manitoba to Winnipeg, then to the Ontario cities.