Toronto 
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a joint $3 billion investment from the federal and Ontario governments to support the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) in Bowmanville, Ontario, marking a major step in Canada’s clean-energy transition.
The Darlington New Nuclear Project site/Credit: OPG
The federal government will contribute $2 billion through the Canada Growth Fund, while the Government of Ontario will invest $1 billion through the Building Ontario Fund. The project will see the construction and operation of four small modular reactors (SMRs), with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) remaining the majority owner and operator. The Canada Growth Fund will hold a 15% ownership stake, and the Building Ontario Fund will hold 7.5%.
Per the news release, the project makes Canada the first G7 nation to bring SMR technology online. It is expected to generate $500 million annually for Ontario’s nuclear supply chain, provide clean power to 300,000 homes, and sustain 3,700 jobs per year, including 18,000 during construction, over a 65-year lifespan.
Construction on the first SMR began in May 2025, with completion expected in 2030. When fully operational, the four reactors will produce 1,200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1.2 million homes, while reducing emissions by up to 2.3 million tonnes annually between 2029 and 2050.
Prime Minister Carney said the investment “will create thousands of high-paying careers and power hundreds of thousands of Ontario homes with clean energy.” Premier Ford called it “a down payment on Ontario’s nuclear energy future.”
The DNNP is part of Canada’s broader strategy to accelerate major infrastructure projects through the Major Projects Office, which aims to fast-track nation-building initiatives.
According to the news release, the project will contribute an estimated $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over its lifespan, with 80% of project spending directed to Ontario-based companies and workers.
