Imagine a time in the not-so-distant future where half the cars on the road are electric, AI guides everything from factories to healthcare, and where every device, home, and business runs on reliable, clean electricity.
In this high-tech, energy-hungry world, Ontario faces a critical question: how can we stay competitive on the global stage while powering our economy sustainably?
While Eastern Ontario already contributes to the province’s energy sector with well-established nuclear supply chain facilities in several communities, including Renfrew County, Peterborough, and Port Hope, the area is well-positioned to play a defining role in supporting future growth.
That’s because Wesleyville, located in Port Hope within Northumberland County has been identified by the province as a potential site for Ontario Power Generation (OPG)’s new large nuclear power project. Should it come to fruition, the massive project will drive growth and employment, attract investment, and secure the region’s role in a low-carbon economy for generations.
A potentially ‘massive’ impact on the local economy
In addition to being zoned for power generation, the 1,300-acre site at Wesleyville has ready access to transmission lines, railways, roads, and it is located next to Lake Ontario, which can provide the necessary cooling water for a nuclear reactor.
“It’s a game-changing project for the future,” says T.J. Flynn, Northumberland County’s manufacturing attraction officer and president of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission. “There’s talk of starting construction in 2033, which seems far away, but when it comes to building the infrastructure, including housing and serviced industrial land for supply chain companies needed to deliver such a project, that’s right around the corner. And the impact on eastern Ontario’s economy will be massive.”
The Conference Board of Canada says the project could contribute $235 billion to Ontario’s GDP over an estimated 95-year project life, including design, construction, operation, and maintenance. It would also support 10,500 new jobs across Ontario, including 1,700 in the Port Hope region, representing an approximately 15 to 20 per cent boost to overall employment levels in the area. When the Darlington Generating Station in Bowmanville was built more than 30 years ago, hundreds of skilled workers from surrounding regions travelled to the area to work on construction and operations.
Given the project’s scale and rising demand around the provincial electrical grid, planners are already mapping available options.
“With energy demand in Ontario set to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, we’re doing the early engagement and development work now that will ensure the province has options to meet that growing demand,” said Stephen Lecce, the province’s minister of energy and electrification, when the potential project was announced earlier this year.
“I’m excited to be continuing these conversations with Indigenous and municipal leaders to explore options for new nuclear generation at the Wesleyville site, including new good-paying jobs and other associated benefits.”
Attracting investment and employment opportunities
Eastern Ontario is experiencing one of the fastest population growth rates in the province. According to Ontario’s Long-Term Report on the Economy 2024, the region’s population is projected to increase by 39 per cent over the next two decades – from 2 million in 2023 to 2.8 million by 2043.
To help support this growth, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission (Ontario East) will work closely with member communities and all levels of government to support a mandate to develop, implement, and administer programs that attract new investment and create jobs across diverse communities from east of the GTA to the Quebec border.
The organization focuses on attracting investment in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, including nuclear and aerospace, food and beverage processing, and logistics and transportation, with a future focus to include defense and security. Additionally, the organization offers professional development and networking opportunities to enhance the region’s competitiveness and economic growth.
Looking to invest in the region?
With a lower cost of living and given its strategic location, the region is ideal for businesses looking to grow. Ontario East provides free advisory services, site selection guidance, and access to affordable industrial and commercial properties throughout the region through its online available properties tool, ZoomProspector.
For more information, visit ontarioeast.ca.
This article first appeared in the 2026 STUFF Magazine produced by the Ottawa Business Journal. That publication is available in it’s digital format below: