Order in Council 1662/2025

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 Government has signed a bilateral Shared Prosperity Agreement with Aroland First Nation, dated January 28, 2025, in which the Government committed to bringing forward a proposal that would, subject to receiving all necessary approvals, support the development of the Greenstone Transmission Line;

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 above-noted transmission project 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 is of the view that the preferred manner of proceeding is to require Hydro One Networks Inc. to undertake the development of the above-noted transmission project, 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