Ford's Energy Policies Leave Ontarians in Dark on Power Future
Ontarians are grappling with financial, environmental, and uncertainty issues due to Doug Ford's energy policies. Despite Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) plans for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), the future of Ontario's electricity sources remains unclear.
OPG, headquartered in Toronto, is set to build SMRs, specifically the BWRX-300 model, at the Darlington site near Toronto. However, the government's energy framework was released only in December 2022, causing a four-year delay in contracting new power supplies.
Factories' electrification and nuclear power station maintenance have led to increased fossil-fuel generation, with a 273% rise since the PCs took office. In July 2025 alone, 4.1 million kilowatt hours were generated from fossil fuels. The 2025 Annual Planning Outlook shows no significant reduction until 2034.
The Ford PCs' plan for four SMRs, with an estimated cost of $21 billion for 1,200 MW, has been criticized as inadequate and over-hyped. Ontarians are questioning the affordability of these plans, especially with challenges in jobs, housing, and healthcare. The cancelled generation projects have cost Ontarians $231 million, with no new power supplies contracted.
The SMRs' foreign supply chain raises energy security concerns and potential U.S. influence over resources and trade arrangements. Even with the SMRs, Ontario faces uncertainty about future power sources, according to the IESO's 2025 Annual Planning Outlook.
Doug Ford's energy policies have led to increased costs and emissions for Ontarians, with uncertainty persisting about the province's future electricity sources. Despite OPG's plans for SMRs, the high costs and foreign supply chain raise concerns about energy security and affordability.
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