The Ontario government is working with Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN) and Moose Cree First Nation (MCFN) to develop new hydroelectric generating stations in Northern Ontario. The goal is to increase clean energy production and support regional economic growth.
Two proposed stations – Nine Mile Rapids and Grand Rapids – could generate a combined 430MW of electricity, enough to power about 430,000 homes. The projects are part of the province’s efforts to meet rising electricity demand, particularly in the North, where demand is expected to increase by 81% by 2050.
“For more than a century, nearly a quarter of Ontario’s power has come from clean hydroelectric energy,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “As energy demand rises in Ontario, especially in the North, our government is taking action by supporting early development work for the province’s first expansion of large-scale hydroelectricity in decades. By working together in the face of unjustified attacks from President Trump, Ontario will generate all the affordable electricity we need within our own borders, now and well into the future.”
TTN and MCFN will lead the co-planning process, working alongside the province and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) on early-stage studies and assessments.
“This co-planning process represents a new approach – one that puts First Nations in the driver’s seat from the beginning,” said Chief Bruce Archibald of Taykwa Tagamou Nation. “True economic reconciliation means that we are not just participating in development. We’re shaping it, on our terms, for the benefit of our communities while supporting the province’s work to meet rising demand for electricity.”
Letters of Intent have been signed by TTN and MCFN with OPG to support preliminary planning activities.
“Moose Cree First Nation supports our work with Taykwa Tagamou Nation and the Co-Planning Committee to explore potential future water-power development within the Moose River Basin,” said Chief Peter Wesley of Moose Cree First Nation. “This collaborative effort aims to meet the power needs of Ontario while respecting the interests of both communities and building upon our partnership with OPG on the Lower Mattagami River Project. We will develop a streamlined process for hydro development, ensuring environmental impacts are evaluated and understood by our community members in addition to the benefits these projects will bring in terms of jobs and long-term revenue.”
Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, said the initiative reflects the province’s broader energy and reconciliation strategy.
“This tremendous opportunity with Taykwa Tagamou Nation and Moose Cree First Nation is proof positive of our government’s commitment to building meaningful community and economic partnerships in the spirit of reconciliation,” Rickford said. “By working hand-in-hand with First Nations leaders and their communities, we are not only ensuring a sustainable energy future for Ontario, but also advancing economic self-determination and creating good-paying, local jobs.”
The new projects would be the first net-new hydroelectric stations built in Ontario in a decade. They add to OPG’s ongoing refurbishments of existing stations in Northern Ontario, Niagara Region, Cornwall, and Eastern Ontario, part of a $4.7 billion investment to secure over 5,000MW of clean electricity and support more than 2,000 jobs.
MPP George Pirie noted the importance of energy infrastructure for the region.
“This is an exciting moment for Timmins, as these large-scale hydroelectric generation stations will provide a reliable source of electricity for Northeastern Ontario and beyond,” he said. “Our community serves as a vital hub for resource development and economic activity, and as we continue to grow, establishing a clean energy source for future development will benefit the North and all of Ontario.”
The hydro projects are part of a broader plan that includes forest biomass electricity generation, major transmission line projects, competitive procurement incentives for Northern projects, and $10.9 billion in new energy efficiency programs.
