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Federal Review to Consider Bowmanville Nuclear Proposal and Other Major Projects

Justin Barber

— 2 min read

The federal government has named several large infrastructure projects across Canada that will be reviewed by the Major Projects Office (MPO), according to an official backgrounder released on September 11, 2025. Projects under initial consideration include developments in natural gas, nuclear energy, mining, and shipping, with a notable proposal for a new nuclear reactor in Bowmanville, Ontario.

The list is significant for local readers because the Darlington New Nuclear Project, located in Bowmanville, has been included. This means the project may move forward with further federal review, which could impact local employment and energy supply.

According to the backgrounder, the following projects are among the first referred to the MPO:

  • The LNG Canada Phase 2 project in Kitimat, British Columbia would double the site's liquefied natural gas output. The government states this expansion is expected to attract $33 billion in private-sector investment and deliver energy to international markets.

  • The Darlington New Nuclear Project in Bowmanville, Ontario, is proposed by Ontario Power Generation. The backgrounder indicates this would make Canada the first G7 country with an operational small modular reactor (SMR). The first of four planned units at Darlington is reported to have the capacity to supply electricity to about 300,000 homes and support 200 permanent jobs, in addition to 1,600 construction jobs.

  • The Contrecoeur Terminal Container Project near Montreal, Quebec, would expand the Port of Montreal's container capacity by approximately 60 percent and introduce artificial intelligence to supply chain operations, according to the backgrounder. The project is expected to create several thousand jobs.

  • The McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project in east-central Saskatchewan has been proposed by Foran Mining. According to the government, the mine would provide copper and zinc and is anticipated to create hundreds of jobs.

  • The Red Chris Mine Expansion in northwest British Columbia, led by Newmont Mining and Imperial Metals, is described as a major expansion aiming to extend the mine's operational life by over a decade and increase Canada’s annual copper production by over 15 percent. The backgrounder states this expansion would employ around 1,500 workers during regular operation, with about 1,800 during construction. The project is part of the proposed Northwest Critical Conservation Corridor, which the MPO will also consider.

Other projects and areas identified for future consideration by the MPO include wind energy development in Atlantic Canada, the Pathways Plus carbon capture project in Alberta, upgrades to the Port of Churchill, high-speed rail between Toronto and Quebec City, new economic and security corridors in the Arctic, and expanded transportation infrastructure. These remain at an early stage of consideration, according to the government.

The MPO was set up by the federal government to coordinate the review and regulatory assessment of major infrastructure projects. According to the backgrounder, the office is intended to offer guidance on approval processes and to support engagement with Indigenous communities. The government states that more projects will be referred to the MPO for consideration in the coming months.

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