With Bill 40 now law and a priority transmission line advancing through a new First Nations agreement, Ontario is linking energy security with economic development more directly than before.
Bill 40, the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, marks a shift in how the province approaches energy planning. By enabling utilities to prioritize Canadian materials, technology, and suppliers, the legislation embeds a Canada-first framework into future energy projects. This reflects what engaged women across Canada have consistently called for: energy policy grounded in real-life needs that supports affordability, reliability, and domestic job creation. More than 80 per cent of engaged women agree that expanding Canada’s energy sector drives economic growth and improves standards of living.
Bill 40 also broadens the mandate of Ontario’s energy agencies. By adding economic growth as an objective for both the Independent Electricity System Operator and the Ontario Energy Board, the province is signalling a more integrated approach to energy decision-making. This aligns with national research showing that 90 per cent of engaged women believe energy policy should focus on improving the cost of living through stable and affordable energy. As demand rises from electrification and more than 6,500 megawatts of proposed data centre connections, how regulators balance growth and system reliability will be closely watched.
These policy priorities are reinforced by new infrastructure planning. Ontario has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Shawanaga, Wahnapitae, Dokis, Magnetawan, and Henvey Inlet First Nations to advance a new 500 kilovolt transmission line from Barrie to Sudbury. The project, designated as a provincial priority and expected to be in service by 2032, would add 1,500 megawatts (that is enough power for 1-1.5 million homes) of capacity moving power north, supporting mining, critical minerals development, and broader economic activity.
The agreement establishes a governance framework that positions First Nations as co-owners and active participants in the project, emphasizing transparency, early engagement, and shared benefit. Taken together, Bill 40 and the transmission agreement suggest Ontario is responding to a broader shift in public expectations. Engaged women are calling for practical policy reform that strengthens energy independence, supports infrastructure, and anchors economic growth at home.