Good morning, Ministers,…

Good morning, Ministers, MPPs, and valued stakeholders,

On behalf of President Rick Dumas, and the Board of Directors, attached is NOMA’s formal submission to the Environmental Registry of Ontario expressing our strong support for the Government of Ontario’s proposal to designate the Greenstone Transmission Line as a priority project and to appoint Hydro One as its transmitter.

This critical infrastructure will significantly enhance the capacity and reliability of our electricity supply—an essential foundation for economic growth, job creation, and long-term development in Northwestern Ontario. The benefits will extend well beyond our region, supporting the broader prosperity of the province as a whole.

Sincerely,
Jason Veltri
Executive Coordinator - NOMA

Submission:
August 14, 2025

Julia Black
Ministry of Energy and Mines
77 Grenville Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2C1
Submitted via online portal

Re: Support for Hydro One Greenstone Transmission Line Project – ERO number 025-0660

Dear Ms. Black,

On behalf of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), representing 37 municipalities across our vast region, I am writing to express our strong support for the Government of Ontario’s proposal to declare the Greenstone Transmission Line a priority project and to designate Hydro One as the transmitter for this critical infrastructure initiative.

Reliable, affordable electricity is foundational to economic growth, job creation, and community well-being across Northwestern Ontario. The Greenstone Transmission Line will not only address immediate needs for industrial expansion but will also position our region for long-term development in mining, forestry, and related sectors.

We endorse the recommendations put forward by NOMA’s Northwest Energy Task Force:

1. Route and Initial Construction Scope – The first phase of the line should be built to the Aroland First Nation and Nakina area, following a route roughly parallel to Highway 11 and the existing radial transmission line. This alignment supports anticipated growth tied to Greenstone Gold’s operations and other mining developments in the area.
2. Dual-Circuit Installation – Both circuits should be installed during the initial construction period to maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and align with Ontario’s policy to accelerate industrial development in the North while removing barriers to investment.
3. Strategic Transformer Siting – Major transformer facilities should be located at Geraldton, Beardmore, and Nakina to facilitate mine development, community growth, and potential connections to the proposed Little Jackfish Hydro-electric generation project.
4. Streamlined Approval Process – To expedite delivery of this strategically important line, we recommend:
o Exempting the project from Leave to Construct requirements; and
o Assigning it to the Ontario Class Environmental Assessment process, which could reduce timelines by one to two years according to the Energy for Generations Integrated Plan.

NOMA believes that advancing the Greenstone Transmission Line as a priority project will create lasting economic and social benefits for communities across Northwestern Ontario. We urge the Province to proceed without delay.

Thank you for your attention and commitment to the future prosperity of our region.
Sincerely,

Rick Dumas
President
Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association

c. Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy & Mines
Hon. Kevin Holland, MPP, Thunder Bay–Atikokan
Lise Vaugeois, MPP, Thunder Bay–Superior North
Northwest Energy Task Force
Municipality of Greenstone