Should Ontario Fast-Track the Red Lake Transmission Line?
Official title: Enhancing Transmission Capacity North of Dryden - The Red Lake Transmission Project(source: Environmental Registry)
Ontario wants to build new high-voltage power lines from Dryden to Red Lake in the northwest. The government is asking whether to declare this a "priority project" to speed up approvals, and whether to assign Hydro One as the builder. The lines would support mining operations and improve grid reliability for about 15,000 residents.
Why This Matters
Live in northwestern Ontario? Power outages could become less common. The region's grid is strained, and new mining projects need electricity fast. First Nations communities could get a 50% ownership stake in the lines—plus jobs and contracts. If you care about how major infrastructure gets approved, this sets a precedent.
What Could Change
If approved, the Ontario Energy Board would have to accept that this line is needed—skipping that debate. Hydro One would be assigned to build it without competitive bidding. The 230-kilovolt double-circuit lines could be in service by late 2020s, supporting 200+ MW of new generation capacity.
Key Issues
- Should this transmission project be declared a 'priority' to bypass the need-assessment step?
- Should Hydro One be assigned as builder without competitive procurement?
- How should Indigenous communities be consulted and included as partners?
- What environmental impacts should be considered for the transmission corridor?
How to Participate
- This consultation closed on December 13, 2025. Comments were accepted through the Ontario Regulatory Registry.