TORONTO – The Government of Ontario has announced a major step forward for the Bruce C nuclear project, the first large-scale nuclear power plant to be built in the province in over 30 years (the last major construction of this kind dates back to the early 1990s). The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) will enter into an agreement with Bruce Power – the company that operates the existing facility on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County – to fund early-stage project activities, including consultations with First Nations and local communities, workforce planning, and site preparation.
This initial phase is estimated to cost $300 million and is expected to be completed by 2030. The new plant, with a capacity of up to 4,800 megawatts, will be able to supply electricity to around 4.8 million homes.
According to provincial estimates, the project will contribute $238 billion to Canada’s GDP, creating 18,900 jobs during construction and around 6,700 once operational. A study by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce also highlights an average annual impact of $2 billion in local GDP, $427 million in labour income, and approximately 3,400 full-time jobs in surrounding communities.
Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce, presenting the project today in Etobicoke alongside Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, and other representatives from the provincial government, industry associations, and involved businesses, described Bruce C as a strategic project to strengthen Ontario’s economy and energy security, emphasizing the province’s commitment to “made-in-Canada” nuclear energy in an increasingly uncertain global context. Lecce also noted that Ontario is leading the largest nuclear expansion on the continent.
“The Bruce C project,” Lecce said, “will transform Bruce Power into the world’s largest nuclear generating facility. Our government is thinking big and long-term as we build on-time and on-budget, leading the largest nuclear expansion on the continent that will help Ontario reindustrialize, attract job creating investment, and keep power reliable for families, farms and businesses.”
Thompson added that “the project will energize the entire sector which in turn will continue to drive generational innovation and success with respect to both nuclear energy and related economic development opportunities in the region and across Ontario.”
The initiative is part of the long-term energy plan “Energy for Generations”, through which the government aims to address growing electricity demand—projected to increase by up to 90% by 2050—while avoiding future risks of blackouts and ensuring reliable, affordable power.
Bruce Power already operates eight reactors at the Bruce A and Bruce B sites on Lake Huron. The new facility will therefore be built at one of the largest operating nuclear sites in the world and will leverage existing infrastructure, reducing development time and costs. Currently, 95% of Bruce Power’s spending remains in Canada, supported by a strong domestic supply chain and a highly skilled workforce.
The project adds to other major nuclear investments already underway in Ontario, including the refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, Bruce Power’s life extension program, the construction of the first Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in the G7 at the Darlington site, the development of the Wesleyville site, and the refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.
To read the official press release with further details and statements, click here.
Pictured above are Minister Stephen Lecce and Minister Lisa Thompson during today’s announcement: the image is a screenshot from the Government of Ontario Announcements YouTube channel video, which you can see below
