The Ontario government has named the Red Lake Transmission Line a priority project, and it has designated Hydro One to develop and build the project.

The government says the 162-kilometre double-circuit 230-kV transmission line connecting through Dryden, Ear Falls and Red Lake is a critical piece of infrastructure that will help power one of the most promising mining regions in Canada and enable major new investments across the North.

“Our government is on a mission to grow our economy by generating more reliable hydro power in the North and electrifying one of Ontario’s most mineral rich regions with a new transmission line,” said Energy Minister Stephen Lecce. “We are accelerating the transmission line to power new mines, strengthen energy security and create good jobs. This important next step of Ontario's plan will unlock more than 5,800 good-paying jobs and unlock $830 million in economic potential, all delivered in partnership with First Nations.”

In the Red Lake region, electricity demand will increase potentially as high as 525 per cent, rising from approximately 120 megawatts today to potentially over 750 megawatts by 2050. This increase is being driven by growing communities and a thriving mining sector that is expected to grow by 41 potential new mines by 2033.

The government says expanding electricity infrastructure in the Red Lake Region is vital to support significant mining projects, including the recently announced Kinross Gold’s Great Bear Project and the Frontier Lithium’s PAK Lithium Project, accelerated through the 1P1P framework, and will deliver hundreds of good-paying jobs to the region.

Declaring the Red Lake Transmission project a priority project and designating Hydro One as the transmitter will speed up Ontario Energy Board approval processes and provide the regulatory certainty needed to begin development work, continue engagement and consultation with Indigenous communities, including economic partnerships and employment opportunities.

First Nations communities will also have access to Hydro One’s First Nations equity partnership model that provides up to a 50 per cent equity stake in the new transmission line once construction is complete.

Lecce also announced that the government will launch a program to renew contracts for hydroelectric stations larger than 10 megawatts. Many of these stations are located in Northern Ontario. Some have contracts that are expected to expire before 2050.

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