To advance electrification and climate change action, Canada must advance reconciliation

Climate change and reconciliation are generational challenges facing all jurisdictions across Canada. They are also intersecting challenges. Addressing climate change by decarbonizing the broader economy through electrification is Ontario’s clear pathway to net zero—a pathway that must also secure the participation of and partnership with Indigenous communities. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) also believes this pathway should include not only two clean energy technologies our country helped pioneer—nuclear and hydroelectric power—but also newer technologies like hydrogen and energy storage. Today, nuclear and hydro provide more than 85 per cent of Ontario’s electricity needs and remain the backbone of its grid—one of the cleanest in the world. Our focus is on expanding and leveraging this grid to electrify more facets of everyday life, such as transportation. At the same time, we need to make sure Indigenous communities, especially those in the North, aren’t left behind by this energy transition. Given the urgency posed by the potential doubling of demand for electricity by 2050, OPG has been moving quickly on many fronts. At our Darlington Nuclear site, we continue to develop North America’s first commercial, grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR), which will reliably power about 300,000 homes. And through the Global First Power project, we are building Canada’s first off-grid SMR, a potentially viable alternative to diesel generators for remote mines and communities. Heather Ferguson is the senior vice-president of business development and corporate affairs for Ontario Power Generation. Photograph courtesy of OPG In keeping with the need to act and invest now to secure a clean energy future, OPG released the Northern Ontario Hydroelectric Opportunities Report, with input and advice from the Ontario Waterpower Association and Indigenous communities. The report showcases 4,000 megawatts of hydro projects we believe hold great potential in northern Ontario and would enable Indigenous partnerships and multi-generational clean power assets for the province. It also proposes options for expediting development timelines and makes key recommendations on how to move forward with Indigenous communities. The benefits of new nuclear and hydro are clear: more clean, long-lasting, and reliable power. More high-quality jobs. And, in the case of SMRs, a chance to lead the global export market, which could be worth more than $150-billion to $300-billion per year by 2040. That said, unlocking these benefits won’t be easy. New nuclear and hydro power have long lead times and require early planning and investment. Going forward, we will also need to work with government to advance policy, efficient regulatory frameworks, and financing instruments that will help expedite achievement of Canada’s net-zero goals. We must also ensure Indigenous Peoples and communities reap lasting benefits from these developments. OPG’s Reconciliation Action Plan recognizes this and commits to growing our economic impact for Indigenous communities and businesses to $1-billion over the next 10 years through targeted procurement and equity partnerships on clean energy projects, as well as increasing Indigenous hiring and community investments. As we work toward our goals, we are also breaking down barriers that could block smaller Indigenous companies from participating in this energy transition. At the very foundation of it all is open and respectful communication. Whether in our exploration of new hydro or in our SMR projects, we are engaging with Indigenous communities at the earliest stages of planning to listen to and understand their needs, concerns, and challenges. This helps us identify opportunities for employment, supply chain participation, and potential economic partnerships on new developments. OPG’s current partnerships continue to demonstrate benefits and value to Indigenous communities and the province. Very small modular reactors, like our Global First Power project, could also provide “energy equality” to off-grid communities in Canada’s North, as abundant nuclear energy replaces unreliable, costly diesel. This would give remote communities the quality of life many of us take for granted. As Canada continues its reconciliation journey, new nuclear and hydro offer a path to meaningfully advance reconciliation. In pursuing these opportunities, we must acknowledge and learn from our past, including the negative impacts the build-out of our legacy hydro projects had on Indigenous Peoples. And we must engage and listen to Indigenous voices, communities, and businesses at every step, to ensure understanding and sustainable development in line with the best interests of the community. Together, this is how we will realize Canada’s clean energy future. Heather Ferguson is the senior vice-president of business development and corporate affairs for Ontario Power Generation. Ferguson has more than 25 years of experience in the resource development, energy, and electricity sectors. Her focus includes ensuring progress on the company’s Reconciliation Action Plan and advancing hydroelectric generation development across the province, in partnership with local Indigenous communities. The Hill Times