Ontario is entering the largest expansion of its energy system in decades. Electricity demand is projected to rise 65 percent by 2050, driven by industrial growth, electrification, data centres and AI, and population growth.
The Ontario government’s Integrated Energy Plan sets an ambitious course. The defining challenge is now execution: whether Ontario can deliver complex, long-lived energy projects on time, on budget and at competitive cost in an increasingly fragmented system.
What this report argues
Ambition alone will not deliver Ontario’s next generation of energy infrastructure. Success will depend on aligning capital, talent, regulation, supply chains, and market access — and coordinating action across government.
A piecemeal approach will not be enough.
Five recommendations to enable Ontario’s energy moment:
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Access to capital: Reduce risk and improve financing conditions to unlock billions in private investment.
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Access to talent: Develop a workforce strategy to reduce labour costs, minimize delays, and support multiple projects moving forward at once.
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Access to new markets: Implement a clear export strategy to take Ontario’s energy, technology, and project expertise to global markets.
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Supply chain readiness: Strengthen domestic supply chains to keep more investment in Ontario and build long-term industrial capacity.
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Streamlined regulatory processes: Cut red tape to keep projects on track, while maintaining strong safety and environmental standards.
Getting execution right will reduce long-term costs for ratepayers, strengthen Ontario’s competitiveness, and help the province capture more of the jobs, manufacturing, and export opportunities created by this build.
