On the recommendation of the undersigned, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, by and with the advice and concurrence of the Executive Council of Ontario, orders that:

Whereas Ontario considers it critical to expand Ontario’s transmission system to provide a reliable and adequate supply of electricity to Northern Ontario to support economic growth in the region, including the rapidly growing mining sector and the future and potential growth in the hydroelectric generation sector;

And whereas the Independent Electricity System Operator, the organization responsible for ensuring the reliability of Ontario’s electricity grid, provided its report back to the Ministry of Energy and Mines dated December 17, 2024, entitled “Powering Ontario’s Growth Report Back: Transmission Development Plan” which identified and recommended several early actions the Government should take to advance transmission projects ahead of the completion of ongoing transmission studies underway, including the ”Northern Ontario Bulk Plan”. The report back recommended early development work be completed for two new single-circuit 500-kilovolt transmission lines from Essa Transformer Station near Barrie to Hanmer Transformer Station in Sudbury, and the construction of one of the single-circuit 500-kilovolt transmission lines in the near term as the appropriate transmission solution that it recommends to meet forecast electricity demand growth and system needs;

And whereas the Ministry of Energy and Mines has published its Integrated Energy Plan, Energy for Generations: Ontario’s Integrated Plan to Power the Strongest Economy in the G7, dated June 12, 2025, in which the Government signaled its plan to take actions designed to alleviate bottlenecks in Ontario’s electricity transmission system in order that power can be delivered where and when it is needed as recommended by the Independent Electricity System Operator;

And whereas the Government is of the view that the development of the transmission projects should be undertaken by a transmitter that is best positioned to develop the infrastructure expediently and on a timeline that supports economic growth and economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities;

And whereas the Government and the Independent Electricity System Operator are of the view that concurrently conducting development work related to additional transmission projects that may be required in the future will preserve flexibility, result in cost and time savings and support more meaningful and transparent consultations and partnership with Indigenous communities and stakeholders;

And whereas the Government is of the view that the preferred manner of proceeding is to require Hydro One Networks Inc. to undertake the development of the transmission projects, including taking any and all steps that are deemed to be necessary and desirable in order to seek required approvals and fulfilling, as part of the environmental assessment process and other applicable provincial permits and approvals, any procedural aspects of the Crown’s duty to consult potentially impacted Indigenous communities that may be delegated to it;

And whereas the Minister of Energy and Mines has, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the authority to issue Directives pursuant to section 28.6.1 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, which relate to the construction, expansion or re-enforcement of transmission systems;

Now therefore the Directive attached hereto is approved and shall be and is effective as of the date hereof.

Minister's Directive

Ministry of Energy and Mines

Approved and Ordered: December 11, 2025