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Waasigan Transmission Line Project

A 50/50 partnership with First Nations

Hydro One and nine First Nation partners are supporting growth in Northwestern Ontario and energizing life for communities and businesses in the region.

Current project phase: Construction

Expected completion date: End of 2027

Overview

Project overview

Energizing life means more than supplying safe and reliable power, it means doing it in a way that helps people live a better and brighter future. We achieve this by listening and taking action to meet your needs. The Northwest has advocated for an increase in power for many years to support community and industry growth. The Waasigan Transmission Line will bring an additional 350 megawatts of electricity to the region, which is more than two times what it takes to power the City of Thunder Bay. This increase in power transfer capability means communities and businesses can grow.

The Waasigan Transmission Line will be a new double-circuit 230 kilovolt transmission line between Lakehead Transformer Station (TS) in the Municipality of Shuniah and Mackenzie TS in the Town of Atikokan, and a new single-circuit 230 kilovolt transmission line between Mackenzie TS and Dryden TS in the City of Dryden. We anticipate construction will begin this year with the first phase from Shuniah to Atikokan in-service at the end of 2025 and the second phase from Atikokan to Dryden in-service by the end of 2027.

Learn about our collaboration with First Nations partners. Discover the shared vision, celebrate the cultural connection, and explore the empowering benefits that resonate across generations.

Chief Terry Allan

Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation

“An incredible project between the 8 communities and Hydro One.”

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Project map

The Waasigan Transmission Line will be a new line between Shuniah, Atikokan and Dryden. The line will help meet the current and future energy needs of Northwest Ontario while protecting and preserving the environment. As part of our deep responsibility to energize life for people, planet and communities, we strive to ensure that our reliable and resilient infrastructure has minimal impacts on the environment.

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Benefits to Northwestern Ontario

Indigenous communities

The project is providing economic participation opportunities to Indigenous communities through training, employment and business creation, as well as 50% equity ownership for nine First Nations in the completed transmission line.

Economic growth

The new line will be the backbone for attracting economic investment to the region, including supporting locally produced goods and services. It will also support mining, forestry, electrification, critical minerals and more.

Clean energy

The project will provide a reliable supply of clean electricity. Twice what it takes to power a city the size of Thunder Bay which means communities and businesses can grow.

Electrifying our homes and local economy relies on critical minerals like copper and nickel, which northern Ontario is fortunate to have a bounty of. Ontario’s competitive advantage in the global mining sector comes from our commitment to sustainability. The clean energy the Waasigan Transmission Line will deliver will enhance this advantage, ensuring mining benefits everyone for generations."

- Chris Hodgson, President, Ontario Mining Association

Key actions Hydro One takes

The Waasigan Transmission Line project will create no significant negative effects to the environment or communities. We will take specific actions to limit and avoid any potential impacts on plants and wildlife, water, quality of life and more.

Working with property owners

We’re committed to working with homeowners to understand the unique features of their property. Collaboratively, we will find a solution to ensure residents who want to stay in their homes, can.

Enhancing community benefits

We work with municipalities, local communities and stakeholders to find opportunities to contribute to the areas around our projects in a positive way, recognizing that community benefits can be varied and diverse.

Electric and magnetic fields safety

Hydro One takes safety very seriously and we design and operate our equipment in accordance with all regulatory requirements. Health Canada has found no conclusive evidence of adverse effects caused by EMF exposure from transmission lines. It also does not consider that any precautionary measures are needed regarding daily exposures to EMFs at extremely low frequencies.

Biodiversity initiatives

We will create a biodiversity initiative to offset habitat loss or any long-term change that may occur as a result of this project. Hydro One will engage with Indigenous communities and interested parties to discuss the implementation of the biodiversity initiative.

Environmental Assessment (EA) process

An environmental assessment includes consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities, government officials and agencies, and interested persons and organizations. The process is designed to assess the existing environment and mitigate potential effects before decisions are made about proceeding with a proposed project. Waasigan required completion of a comprehensive environmental assessment under Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act.

As part of this, a Terms of Reference for how the EA would be completed was required, which was amended and approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) in February 2022. The EA commenced in March 2022 and the Amended EA Report was approved by the MECP in September 2024.

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Anticipated project schedule

April 2019

Notice of Commencement of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Environmental Assessment

Spring 2019

TOR open houses, data collection, and development of route alternatives

August 14, 2020

Draft TOR for public review

Fall 2020

Proposed TOR Submitted to Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

February 2022

Terms of Reference approved by Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

March 9, 2022

Notice of Commencement of Environmental Assessment (EA)

2022-2023

Consultation and data collection on Environmental Assessment study areas

Winter 2023

Selection of preferred routes

Summer 2023

Draft Environmental Assessment for public review

Fall 2023

Final EA Report submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for review and approval, and Leave to Construct (Section 92) application submitted to the Ontario Energy Board

Spring 2024

Leave to Construct (Section 92) application received from the Ontario Energy Board

Fall 2024

Decision on the EA by Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Fall 2024

Construction begins

End of 2025

Phase one (Shuniah to Atikokan) in-service

End of 2027

Phase two (Atikokan to Dryden) in-service

Land acknowledgement

Hydro One respects and affirms the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Equally, we acknowledge that the proposed Waasigan Transmission Line Project is located in the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe people of Treaty #3 and Robinson-Superior First Nations, whose presence reaches back to time immemorial. The Project also traverses the Northwestern Ontario Métis Community and Northern Lake Superior Métis Community.

Hydro One understands that Indigenous Peoples have deep historic and cultural relationships with their land, and a unique knowledge of the natural environment. We are grateful to Indigenous Nations and Peoples for their past and current stewardship of the land, and we acknowledge our shared responsibilities as caretakers for future generations. Hydro One also recognizes the harms and mistakes of the past and remains committed to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in the spirit of truth, healing, and partnership.

The latest news on Waasigan

November 17, 2023

Final EA report

Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One), with the support of nine First Nations partners, has submitted the final Environmental Assessment Report to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks for the Waasigan Transmission Line project.

July 31, 2023

Ontario Energy Board

Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One) with the support of nine First Nation partners, announced today that it has filed an application with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to build and operate the Waasigan Transmission Line.

June 30, 2023

(EA) feedback

With nearly one week remaining in Hydro One’s public review period for the proposed Waasigan Transmission Line draft Environment Assessment (EA) Report, the company urges Indigenous communities...

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