TORONTO: In a historic milestone for Canada’s energy sector, several Ontario First Nations are set to become co-owners of a cutting-edge nuclear reactor following a landmark commercial partnership with the federal and provincial governments.
The governments of Canada and Ontario have jointly announced $700 million in loan guarantees to the seven Williams Treaties First Nations located east of Toronto. This funding will convert directly into equity, securing a minority stake for these Indigenous communities in one of the four small modular reactors (SMRs) currently being constructed at the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Bowmanville, Ontario. The multi-billion-dollar clean energy site is being developed by Ontario Power Generation (OPG).
Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, formally detailed the agreement on Tuesday morning, highlighting it as Canada’s first-ever equity partnership with First Nations involving a nuclear reactor. Lecce noted that this generation-defining investment will meaningfully advance economic reconciliation by ensuring local Indigenous communities directly participate in and benefit from the wealth generated within their traditional territories.
The Williams Treaties First Nations group is comprised of seven prominent Indigenous communities situated near Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe. These include the Alderville First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Scugog Island First Nation, Chippewas of Beausoleil First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, and the Chippewas of Rama First Nation.
In a joint statement, the Chiefs of the Williams Treaties First Nations hailed the commercial agreement as a “historic step forward.” They emphasized that the investment allows them to contribute to meeting the expanding energy demands of Ontario and Canada while moving beyond the traditional role of mere rights holders to become active investors, partners, and stakeholders in major regional infrastructure.
The ambitious four-reactor SMR facility, representing a total estimated cost of $21 billion, holds the distinction of being the first commercial SMR project to break ground within any G7 nation. Construction on the first unit is already well underway and is slated for completion by 2030. Once fully operational, the fleet of small modular reactors will generate 1,200 megawatts of clean electricity—enough to reliably power approximately 1.2 million Canadian homes.
