Ontario Connecting Ring of Fire with New Transmission Line
January 28, 2026
New electricity infrastructure will help unlock the Ring of Fire, creating more than 7,000 jobs and driving economic growth in the North
As part of its plan to protect Ontario and build a stronger, more self-reliant economy, the government is taking a major step to power northern Ontario and unlock the vast economic potential of Ring of Fire by declaring the Greenstone Transmission Line a priority project and designating Hydro One to develop and construct it. Today, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines, and Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships, were joined by Chief Yvette Metansinine of Animbiigoo Zaagi-igan Anishinaabek First Nation, Chief Gladys Thompson of Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaaek First Nation, Chief Paul Gladu of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishnaabek First Nation, and Chief Allan Odawa Jr. of Red Rock Indian Band to announce that the Ontario government is accelerating construction of the 230-kilometre line that will run from Nipigon Bay to near Aroland First Nation and the gateway to the Ring of Fire.
The Greenstone project will create more than 7,000 jobs and is part of the government’s broader plan to protect Ontario by driving economic growth in the North, supporting mining sector development and reshoring Ontario’s domestic supply chains. The government and Hydro One have also committed to leveraging the Canadian and Ontario supply chain, with 93 per cent of the project’s costs to date staying in the country and supporting thousands of Canadian workers.
“Last year, our government took action to bolster our self-reliance by reducing the permitting timelines by 50 per cent to build mines faster, along with a new processing fund to end the ripping and shipping of our resources abroad,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “We are putting Canada first by accelerating a plan to create 70,000 jobs supporting the Ring of Fire. With President Trump’s economic assault on our country, Ontario is officially giving the greenlight to build the Greenstone Transmission Line, delivering the energy backbone and infrastructure to unlock the Ring of Fire’s vast mineral potential. Ontario has what the world needs as a reliable and stable democratic partner, and that is why we are unlocking one of the largest undeveloped, high-grade deposits of critical minerals on earth.”
With electricity demand in northern Ontario projected to increase by 81 per cent by 2050, Ontario is making historic investments to build the infrastructure needed to deliver clean, reliable power to the region. Once complete in 2032, Greenstone will provide the capacity needed to unlock 350-700 megawatts of additional hydroelectricity and other power generation. Ontario is building for the future, since Ontario’s Integrated Energy Plan was unveiled, the province has authorized 600 kilometres of transmission lines.
“Through the designation of the Greenstone Transmission Line as a priority project, our government is expediting the construction of this critical 230-kilometre line connecting First Nations and Northern communities to clean power that will reduce reliance on diesel, advance economic reconciliation and unlock the Ring of Fire,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships. “As outlined in our Shared Prosperity Agreement with Aroland First Nation, we are working in lockstep with First Nations leadership to power the North, supercharging economic growth and meet electricity demands for generations to come.”
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