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Stay informed about what's happening in Thornhill and at Queen's Park.

Ontario Launches New Job-Creating Critical Minerals Strategy

As part of its plan to protect Ontario’s economy and accelerate growth, the Ontario government is cementing the province’s role as a secure, reliable global supplier of responsibly sourced critical minerals. Today, at the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, Minister Stephen Lecce announced the government is releasing Fortifying Ontario’s Economy: A Plan to Accelerate Responsible Resource Development, a forward-looking vision to boldly overhaul and modernize Ontario’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

Protecting Ontario’s Critical Minerals and Energy Sector

As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, the province is introducing new measures to prevent foreign governments or corporations from claiming Ontario’s critical minerals or participating in the province’s energy sector. Today, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, along with Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan announced details from the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act. The proposed legislation will safeguard Ontario’s critical mining resources and energy infrastructure from hostile foreign actors and regimes, creating conditions that will attract investment and make Ontario’s and Canada’s economy more resilient and self-reliant.

Ontario Doubling Hydrogen Innovation Fund to $30 Million to Protect Ontario Jobs

The Ontario government is launching a new round of the Hydrogen Innovation Fund, investing $30 million to unlock hydrogen’s potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and support the province’s position as a leader in the clean energy economy. The new fund will have double the budget of the $15 million 2023 fund and broaden eligibility criteria to include electricity grid-focused initiatives, as well as applications across other sectors, such as transportation.

Ontario Advancing Plan to Refurbish Pickering Nuclear Generating Station

The Ontario government has approved Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) plan to proceed with the Project Definition Phase, the next step toward refurbishing Pickering Nuclear Generating Station’s “B” units to secure more power and create thousands of jobs across the province. As part of the preparation for refurbishment, the government has authorized OPG to sign a $2.1 billion contract with CanAtom for early engineering and procurement to prepare for the execution of the Retube Feeder and Boiler Replacement Program, creating more than 2,400 jobs across the province.

Ontario Exploring New Nuclear Energy Generation in Port Hope

The Ontario government has asked Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to explore opportunities for new nuclear energy generation at their Wesleyville site, following expressions of interest from the Municipality of Port Hope and the Williams Treaties First Nations (WTFNs). OPG will work with local communities to determine support as the province seeks to expand generation to meet the rising demand for electricity.

Ontario Building More Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

AJAX — The Ontario government is building over 1,300 new electric vehicle (EV) charging ports in small and medium-sized communities, marking a major milestone in the province’s plan to increase access to EV chargers outside of large urban centres and support the electrification of transportation across the province. As the province continues to see substantial job creation and investment in the growing EV and EV battery manufacturing sector, these new charging stations will provide critical supporting infrastructure in communities across the province, including for EVs made right here in Ontario.

Ontario Ready to Meet the Challenge of Soaring Energy Demand

TORONTO – Today, the Ontario government released Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power, outlining the challenges facing the province as demand for energy continues to rapidly grow, as well as the province’s path to managing this demand. The government also announced it would release the province’s first-ever Integrated Energy Plan with a generational horizon out to 2050, which will ensure the entire energy sector is aligned behind the government’s pro-growth agenda to reduce costs and province-wide emissions.

Province Launches Largest Competitive Energy Procurement in Ontario History

TORONTO – The Ontario government is launching the largest competitive energy procurement in the province’s history, focused on generating affordable electricity for families and businesses. This builds on the province’s plan to procure up to 5,000 megawatts (MW) of energy through a series of procurements to help foster economic prosperity and meet the growing demand for clean and reliable energy.

Ontario Welcomes $80 Million Nuclear Manufacturing Investment in Cambridge

The Ontario government is welcoming a $80 million investment by BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) to expand their Cambridge nuclear manufacturing plant. Their investment will create more than 250 new skilled, unionized jobs in Cambridge and support Ontario’s expansion of reliable, affordable and clean nuclear energy to power our growing economy.

Ontario Keeping Energy and Housing Costs Down

The Ontario government introduced legislation that, if passed, would reverse a December 2023 decision by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) that would have significantly increased the costs of building new homes across the province. Reversing this decision will prevent an average of $4,400 being added to the price of new homes, or tens of thousands of dollars being added to the price of a home in rural Ontario.

Province Launches Plan to Power Ontario’s Growth

New zero-emissions electricity generation, long duration storage and transmission lines will provide families and industries with the reliable, low-cost and clean power they need and power our future.