Ontario begins Pickering nuclear refurbishment to extend output and support jobs

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Ontario Pickering nuclear refurbishment

Highlights

Ontario approved Ontario Power Generation's Pickering B nuclear refurbishment, awarding $1.7 billion to Aecon and Candu Energy and $1.3 billion to Aecon and Siemens Energy Canada.
The project, expected to create about 30,500 jobs annually during construction and support 7,500 jobs over its life, will add $41.6 billion to Canada's GDP.
Upon completion, the refurbished Pickering station will supply up to 2,200 megawatts—powering 2.2 million homes—supporting Ontario's long-term energy, economic, and manufacturing growth strategy.

Project scope and contract awards

As reported by Ontario Newsroom, the Ontario government has approved Ontario Power Generation's refurbishment plan for the Pickering B units, with Units 5 to 8 due to be removed from service by the end of September 2026. Site construction is beginning now, while reactor refurbishment work is due to begin pending final approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in January 2027.

Once completed, the refurbished station is expected to supply up to 2,200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 2.2 million homes. The work includes replacing 1,520 fuel channels, 48 boilers and building a 1.5-kilometre deep-water intake.

Ontario says the project is being delivered with Canadian technology and a provincial supply chain, with more than 90 per cent of spending expected to remain in Ontario and Canada. Major contracts include an approximately $1.7 billion award to Aecon Group Inc. and Candu Energy, an AtkinsRéalis company, for Unit 5 retube, feeder and boiler replacement work, and a $1.3 billion award to Aecon Group Inc. and Siemens Energy Canada for turbine generator replacement and related systems.

Economic and regional impact

The province says the refurbishment will create about 30,500 jobs annually during construction and support 7,500 jobs across Canada over the life of the project. It also estimates the investment will contribute $41.6 billion to Canada's GDP and generate more than $17 billion in economic activity across Durham Region and Ontario.

Ontario is also linking the project to workforce development, including a new 200,000-square-foot retube, feeder and boiler replacement training and mock-up facility that is expected to train more than 2,800 skilled trades workers before refurbishment activity ramps up. The government says the Pickering project forms part of a broader nuclear expansion strategy that could create up to 150,000 jobs and contribute more than $800 billion to the provincial economy.

The refurbishment is part of Ontario's Energy for Generations plan, which the government describes as its integrated energy strategy for supporting housing, industrial investment and long-term growth. Officials say extending the life of existing nuclear assets provides lower-cost electricity than replacing that generation with new sources while helping preserve energy security and manufacturing activity.

Our earlier coverage of Canada’s July 2026 building construction investment showed total spending rising month over month, with gains increasingly driven by non-residential projects. We noted that institutional construction—especially Ontario hospital builds—was a key source of momentum, while residential growth remained comparatively modest and uneven across provinces.

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