Comment on Summary of Initial Project Description of New Nuclear at Wesleyville – Submission by CELA, DNA and SHA
CELA challenges readiness of Wesleyville nuclear project assessment.
February 11, 2026
Ontario currently has three major nuclear power plant stations, including Bruce Power, Darlington, and Pickering. In 2024, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced its intention to build a new nuclear facility in Wesleyville, Ontario which, if constructed, would be the largest in the world.
A federal Impact Assessment process has called on the public to comment on the Initial Project Description.
CELA is representing local clients Durham Nuclear Awareness and Slovenian Home Association.
CELA and its clients are arguing that this project is premature for an environmental assessment. OPG has provided almost no information about what type of nuclear power they envisage for this site. This matters because different nuclear technologies bring different risks in terms of accidents, types of radioactive emissions, ability to prevent severe damage, how to plan for emergencies, and different types of radioactive nuclear waste.
OPG submitted the Initial Project Description for the project in early January. The public comment period was 30 days and closed February 11, 2026. This is the first step in the federal Impact Assessment which will be led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
CELA submitted comments on behalf of Durham Nuclear Awareness and the Slovenian Home Association on the Initial Project Description.
The next step will be a decision about whether that project description is sufficient and if the matter proceeds further at this time, then comments will be sought from the public on the guidelines for the preparation of an Impact Statement. There would be a combined process of information gathering that includes information necessary for nuclear licensing questions followed by eventual public hearings, presuming that it would be referred to a Joint Panel as required.
Members of the public can go to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Registry for this project to stay up to date, sign up for more information, and see the latest documents filed.
CELA challenges readiness of Wesleyville nuclear project assessment.