Comments on the New Nuclear at Wesleyville Project Summary

There is much to be said on the topic of the New Nuclear at Wesleyville (NNW) project. I am not in favour of this project. I have lived most of my life in the area and drive through Wesleyville into Port Hope many times per week. If this project cannot be cancelled outright, I call on Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to make certain guarantees related to this project: proactive management of nuclear waste, limit the scale of development, guarantee local workforce sourcing, increase engagement with surrounding communities and province-wide First Nations, compensate those impacted, and prioritise the natural environment.

According to OPG’s New Nuclear at Wesleyville in Port Hope Summary of the Initial Project Description (2026) document, there are currently no final and confirmed plans as to where and how the high-level radiological waste from the NNW project will be stored and transported (Ontario Power Generation, 2026). I call on OPG to ensure that definitive plans are in place on how and where the radiological waste created over the entire course of the project’s life span will be stored and transported before any building takes place at the site. These issues are also of great importance to the Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg Nations of the Williams Treaties First Nations (MS-WTFNs) (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.78). To not have a solution currently in place for every stage of the project before it has begun is irresponsible, even when extended timelines are considered. It must be ensured that solutions are already developed for problems created within this generation, rather than creating a problem and hoping that future generations will be able to solve it.

There is insufficient emphasis within the NNW project summary placed on rights-holding First Nations throughout the province of Ontario. More than just the MS-WTFNs mentioned within the NNW project summary will be impacted by the NNW project. In Northwestern Ontario, for example, there is much discussion of the storage and transportation of nuclear waste within Indigenous territory, and not all rights-holding First Nations are in agreement (Puzic, 2024). The wishes of all rights-holding First Nations who will be impacted by this project must be considered, from the beginning of the NNW project (e.g. development, resource extraction, transportation, etc.) to its end (e.g. decommission, waste storage, etc.).

I call on OPG to limit the scale of development to within the current built area of the site. The current footprint of the build area of the Wesleyville site (e.g. powerhouse and stack, existing buildings, etc.) is small in comparison to the size of the actual area owned by OPG (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.21). By limiting development to the existing development footprint, the impact the NNW project would have on the immediate and surrounding community/environment is reduced, and still protects and maintains the historic Wesleyville buildings (schoolhouse, church, active graveyard, Y-house, and barn) (Friends of Wesleyville Village, 2025). The Wesley Church in particular holds a heritage designation with the Municipality of Port Hope (Municipality of Port Hope, 2025). In the case of extended development of the OPG property, I call on OPG to ensure that these historic buildings and sites will remain untouched, readily accessible to the public, and in a good state of repair. I call on OPG and the government of Ontario to provide guarantees that further property in the area will not be purchased by force to add to the girth of the existing OPG property.

Further regarding the current size and scale of the OPG property at Wesleyville, I call on OPG to ensure that co-locating industries will not be build in the Wesleyville area. Instead, industries already existing in the area should be used, and any other required industries should be
sourced from outside of the area, rather than built. This is to limit further development and impact to the area. Site-specific traffic should be limited to Wesleyville road and Lakeshore road should not be used. This will make transit between Wesleyville and Port Hope easier for local residents, tourists, and recreationists.

Guarantees must be made that OPG will prioritize local residents when hiring for positions at the NNW project site. Training should be provided to local residents to ensure that they are able to benefit the most from the employment opportunities offered by the NNW project’s creation. When the employment and economic impacts of the project are mentioned in the NNW project summary (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.75), no promise of training is offered. I call on OPG to ensure that training and employment guarantees/prioritisation is promised to the people currently living in the area, as they will be most impacted by the NNW project and deserve to have hiring priority.
Engagement with the public and the surrounding area has been poor to date, and must be improved before the project is permitted to progress any further. Comments on the NNW project summary are open for only one month (January 12th, 2026 to February 11th, 2026) (Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, 2026). This is not sufficient time to learn of the opportunity to submit comments, read the NNW project summary, reach out to knowledgeable organizations, conduct research, and formulate a thorough comment. I learned of the current opportunity to comment only through word of mouth. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s (2026) web page on this project was difficult to find online. Information sessions offered by OPG on the NNW project summary to invite comments were provided half-way through the time period available to provide a comment, further reducing the already tight time frame available for people to voice their thoughts.

To date, newsletters have been delivered to Township of Port Hope postal codes, information sessions were held in the Port Hope area, NNW project brochures were mailed within Northumberland County, and project information booths were held in local Port Hope community institutions (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.82). I live less than 10 kilometres away from the NNW site, but because I live in Durham Region/Municipality of Clarington, I have not received any of the above-mentioned resources. OPG must not continue to neglect communication with a Region and Municipality that lies so close to the border, whose people will also be greatly impacted by this project. Send brochures and newsletters, hold information sessions and booths, and do it in both Municipalities and both Regions on both sides of the border.

While there is acknowledgement and consideration of the health impact the NNW project could have on local residents (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.74), and there has been consideration of the health impacts of historical nuclear industries in the area (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.39), I see no consideration within the NNW project summary of the impact the NNW project will have on mental health specifically. In fact, it is acknowledged within the NNW project summary that mental health is decreasing in the area (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.38). I call on OPG to ensure they are directly and adequately assessing the impact the NNW project could and will have on the mental health of residents, and to ensure that substantial resources and supports are in place to help residents cope with the impact the NNW project will have on their homes and lives.

Landowners and property value for those impacted by the NNW project must be protected and adequately compensated. While there is acknowledgement in the NNW project summary that the project will impact property values for those living close to the NNW project, there is no mention of direction action that will be taken to mitigate damage (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p. 75). I call on OPG to develop a timely, fair, transparent, and easily accessible property management plan for property owners whose property value will be impact by the NNW project.

Finally, I call on OPG to do everything in its power to protect the natural area/environment within and surrounding the NNW project property, including preserving its flora, fauna, and natural character. According to Ontario GeoHub, three areas of natural and scientific interest (ANSIs) exist within the NNW project site; two of regional significance (Wesleyville Marsh and Chrysler Point Bluff) and one of provincial significance (Wesleyville Ravines) (Land Information Ontario, 2025). Learning more about these areas proved difficult, and reaching out to the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, Municipality of Port Hope, and Ministry of Natural Resources has not yet materialised in any meaningful information on the ANSIs. Despite this, it is clear that the NNW project’s OPG property contains valuable and sensitive natural areas. This is corroborated by the NNW project summary (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, pp.26-33), which states that there are many species of insects, mammals, birds, fish, turtles, and plants that call this area their home, some of which are rare or at risk.

OPG has a proud history of its conservation and biodiversity work in the Wesleyville area, and acknowledges that Wesleyville Creek is “one of the highest quality cold water streams on the north shore of Lake Ontario” (Ontario Power Generation, 2019). In the NNW project summary, it is acknowledged that the project will certainly impact the natural area within the OPG property and beyond, including Lake Ontario (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, pp.63-73). Yet, it is stated in the NNW project summary that wildlife habitat loss will be avoided only “to the extent practical” (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.72). Avoiding destruction of habitat only when practical is unacceptable. OPG must commit to showing actual concern for habitat and species even when it is inconvenient, as it suggests it does (Ontario Power Generation, 2019). I call on OPG to go above and beyond what is practical and ensure that the natural environment of the area is not impacted substantially by development of the NNW project.

Specific assessment and consideration of the cumulative impact of six nuclear power plants on Lake Ontario must also be conducted, three being in Ontario (Canadian Nuclear Society, 2023) and three in New York State, United States of America (United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 2025). The NNW project summary states that this single project will impact many environmental factors in diverse ways, such as through the impingement and entrainment of fish (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, p.55). Thus, no development of the site can be performed until it is guaranteed that the environmental impacts of the other nuclear power plants in combination with the NNW project are thoroughly considered and deemed acceptable.

For many reasons, including concern for the natural environment, protection of local landowners’ property value, concern for the rights of First Nations, and lack of engagement with key local residents, I cannot support the NNW project as it is currently proposed. I grew up witnessing the stress and exhaustion my friends, family, and neighbours experienced as they attempted to navigate the Port Hope Area Initiative and Port Granby Project through the years and across generations (Ontario Power Generation, 2026, pp.35-36). There are now feelings of hopelessness and helplessness among my loved ones when I mention any potential action that can be taken to shape this project. I feel that I still must try and work within the channels available to me to make a difference. Please seriously consider and act upon my comments.

References

Canadian Nuclear Society. (2023, August 17). Where are Canada’s reactors located? https://www.cns-snc.ca/learn-nuclear/basics-of-nuclear/where-are-canadas-reactors-located/

Friends of Wesleyville Village. (2025). About us: Wesleyville village. Wesleyville Heritage Village. https://www.wesleyvillevillage.com/about
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. (2026, January 12). New nuclear at Wesleyville project. https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/89802

Land Information Ontario. (2025, October 1). Areas of natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). Ontario GeoHub. https://geohub.lio.gov.on.ca/datasets/lio::areas-of-natural-and-scientific-interest-ansi/explore?location=43.928481%2C-78.401706%2C13

Municipality of Port Hope. (2025). 2082 Lakeshore road. Port Hope, ON. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.porthope.ca/en/business-and-development/resources/Heritage%20Designations/Heritage-Designations/Wesley%20Church,%20Wesleyville%20Heritage%20Designation.pdf.

Ontario Power Generation. (2026). New nuclear at Wesleyville in Port Hope: Summary of the initial project description. Retrieved January 28, 2026, from https://www.iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/documents/p89802/164217E.pdf.

Ontario Power Generation. (2019, September 27). OPG’s Wesleyville site certified gold by Wildlife Habitat Council. Ontario Power Generation. https://www.opg.com/stories/opgs-wesleyville-site-certified-gold-by-wildlife-habitat-council/

Puzic, S. (2024, December 24). Ontario First Nation challenging selection of underground nuclear waste site in court. The Canadian Press. Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/national/ontario-first-nation-challenging-selection-of-underground-nuclear-waste-site-in-court/article_6ffb373c-f9d0-5c3d-acc4-2ae193da56f9.html.

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (2025, August 6). Operating nuclear power reactors (by location or name). https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactors/index