Ontario Investing $1 Billion to Build Small Modular Reactors at Darlington
November 5, 2025
As part of its plan to protect Ontario and build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy, the province is investing $1 billion through the Building Ontario Fund in the first small modular reactors (SMRs) in the G7 at Darlington Nuclear Station. Ontario’s SMRs will create 18,000 jobs during construction with 3,700 jobs during operation, while contributing $38.5 billion to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over 65 years.
“Today’s investment to support the first SMRs in the G7 is a down payment on Ontario’s nuclear energy future,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We’re protecting Ontario by supporting good-paying, long-term jobs for Ontario workers and building the energy infrastructure — including both SMRs and new, large-scale nuclear — needed to make Ontario an energy superpower.”
The province and federal government are making historic investments in this nation-building project, including a $1 billion provincial investment through the Building Ontario Fund and a $2 billion federal investment through the Canada Growth Fund, respectively. Once construction of the four SMRs is complete, they will produce 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 1.2 million homes.
Site preparation and construction progress – Fall 2025
All site grading for future units is now complete, along with the first phase of geotechnical investigations. Results from this initial geotechnical campaign will be essential in establishing the final layout of future SMR units. Excavation work on the first unit’s Reactor Building shaft has reached 80 per cent completion, with rock splitting and excavation activities ongoing. Fabrication of Basemat modules – which will serve as the foundation of the first unit’s Reactor Building – continues to progress with completed modules being assembled in the Pre-Assembly Building.
Once the Reactor Building shaft is wholly excavated, the fully assembled Basemat will be lifted by heavy crane and placed at the bottom of the shaft in early 2026. At the Launch Shaft, excavation into solid rock continues and has progressed to approximately 70 per cent completion, with excavation at the Forebay Shaft surpassing 50 per cent.
The Turbine Building’s deep foundation work has now reached 60 percent completion while the Administration Building, which broke ground in March, is now in the final stages of foundation and elevator shaft completion. The Fabrication Building and on-site warehousing structure are in their final stages, with completion expected in early 2026.
Construction on the first SMR began in May 2025, with the SMR expected to come online in 2030. Today’s funding will support the construction and operation of the first SMR with an innovative model to allow for additional private sector and Indigenous investment.
“The Darlington New Nuclear Project will create thousands of high-paying careers and power thousands of Ontario homes with clean energy,” said Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada. “This is a generational investment that will build lasting security, prosperity and opportunities. We’re building big things to build Canada Strong.”
“As we navigate tariffs and global volatility, it’s never been more important to create a more competitive, more resilient and self-reliant province that can withstand whatever comes our way,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Through the Building Ontario Fund, we are investing in this nation-building project that will secure the clean, reliable energy our growing province needs while creating thousands of good-paying jobs for Ontario workers.”
The first-of-their-kind in the G7, the SMRs that make up the Darlington New Nuclear Project will inject $500 million annually into the Canadian supply chain. The construction, operation and maintenance of the four units will add $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next 65 years. The government has worked with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to ensure that 80 per cent of project spending goes to Ontario companies, including steel produced in Ontario, by Ontario steelworkers, and that construction and operations will protect workers and jobs by sustaining an estimated 3,700 highly skilled, good-paying jobs annually.
“With rising instability in the global economy, now is exactly the time to be building big, creating thousands of jobs, and investing in the Canadian nuclear supply chain,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines. “Ontario’s leading the largest nuclear expansion on the continent, anchored by the G7’s first SMR being built at Darlington. Our government secured a commitment to keep at least 80 per cent of the SMR construction in Ontario — supporting our workers, technology sector and economy.”
In addition to the Darlington New Nuclear Project and refurbishments at the Darlington and Pickering nuclear generating stations and Bruce Power, Ontario is exploring multiple new nuclear energy generation projects to build for the future. This includes OPG’s Wesleyville site in Port Hope, which could host up to 10,000 MW of reliable, emissions-free power and conducting pre-development work with Bruce Power to site the first large-scale nuclear build in over three decades with up to 4,800 MW of new nuclear generation.
Quick Facts
- The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) recently approved OPG’s operating licence at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station through 2045 — the longest operating license ever issued by the CNSC. This decision underscores the world-class safety and operational excellence of OPG, allowing the station to continue the safe production of reliable, clean power and support its 2,500 workers.
- Ontario has approved OPG’s plan to begin construction on the first of the four SMRs at the Darlington nuclear site.
- The Building Ontario Fund (BOF) plays a critical role in catalyzing investment in high-impact, revenue-generating infrastructure projects in Ontario across five priority areas: energy, affordable housing, long-term care, transportation and municipal and community infrastructure. Focused on projects in the public interest and that advance economic participation for Indigenous partners, BOF is helping meet the province’s growing infrastructure needs and driving long-term economic growth.
- Through the 2025 Budget, the Ontario government approved up to a further $5 billion in funding to BOF, ensuring it’s well positioned to continue delivering on its mandate and support high-impact projects that contribute to the province’s economic and social well-being.
