First Nations to outline economic involvement at Darlington new nuclear project

Williams Treat First Nations have been in “good-faith discussions” with Ontario Power Generation since last fall about economic opportunities that will arise from the Darlington new nuclear project, with a press conference set for Tuesday morning to outline what those opportunities could be.

A ‘special announcement’ from Alderville, Curve Lake, Hiawatha and Scugog Island First Nations is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the OPG Darlington Energy Complex in Courtice, with chiefs from each of the First Nations joined by federal Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, his provincial counterpart Peter Bethlenfalvy and Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce.

The federal and provincial governments announced a combined $3 billion commitment to the project last year, with the investments supporting construction and operation of the first-of-its-kind small modular reactor project through “innovative” financial arrangements, encouraging private sector and Indigenous investment in the project.

The chiefs were clear at the time of the announcement in the fall that work on the project not be accelerated without “comprehensive consultation” from the First Nations.

“Our nations are committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions, but only in ways that honour our rights, respect our lands, and recognize our role as partners.”

The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation have been active partners with OPG  at the Darlington and Pickering nuclear sites through their Voyageur Services economic arm, which was founded less than five years ago and has already earned several major contracts including site preparation work at Darlington for the small modular reactor project, a water treatment project – also at Darlington – and dredging work at the Pickering nuclear plant.

As well, the Region of Durham and the First Nation have signed a new bilateral agreement to cooperate on issues such as economic development, ecological protection and consultation work.

Ottawa’s Major Projects Office, which has included the Darlington nuclear build as a “nation building” project worthy of an expedited timeline, has acknowledged that “critical discussions” with Indigenous partners are needed to ensure the project benefits First Nations. The Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg Nations of the Williams Treaties hold aboriginal and treaty rights at the Darlington site and are working to ensure their rights and environmental interests are upheld.

The federal government is also expanding the Indigenous Loan Guarantee program to support First Nations equity ownership in major energy and transmission projects.

“Our Nations are committed to ensuring that the project honours our rights, protects the land and waters and creates lasting participation and opportunity for our people – economically, environmentally and culturally,” the chiefs said in a statement.

“Our leadership continues to work collaboratively with Ontario Power Generation … and are building a model of partnership and reconciliation that shows how clean energy development can move forward responsibly while honouring our ancestral lands.”

There is expected to be additional work after Velan. Inc. builds a promised a new manufacturing facility in Durham Region to help meet rising global demand for SMR technologies, with each new reactor built bringing up to $70 million worth of new investment into Ontario for world-class components.

SMR builder GE Vernova Hitachi and Velan have entered into a partnership to “explore opportunities” to deploy Reactor Integral Isolation Valves and Containment Isolation Valves – critical pieces of safety equipment for BWRX-300 small modular reactor projects in Europe.

“By signing this agreement with GE Vernova Hitachi and Velan, Ontario will build and export Ontario-made nuclear components for Europe’s growing SMR market,” said Lecce. “With more than $600 billion in global SMR investment expected in the decades ahead, our government is firing up the Ontario supply chain, helping create good-paying jobs for Canadians.”

The first SMR unit will supply enough clean electricity to power approximately 300,000 homes. When completed, the four units at Darlington will generate enough electricity to power 1.2 million homes.

The first SMR will cost $7.7 billion including common infrastructure, and the total budget for all four units is expected to be $20.9 billion.

All four units are expected to create 18,000 annual jobs during construction and sustain 2,500 annual jobs during operation.

Site prep work at Darlington Nuclear by Voygeur Services