Provincial and territorial leaders announce plans for a connected electricity grid

Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce speaks at the PDAC conference at Toronto’s Metro Toronto Convention Centre as MPP Algoma-Manitoulin, Bill Rosenberg looks on March 3, 2026. Photo by Peter J Thompson/National PostArticle contentEight provinces and two territories have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build cross-country electricity transmission infrastructure, Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, announced Wednesday. Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentSpeaking at a press conference in Toronto, Lecce said Canada currently has “13 islands” of grids, making the country less energy independent. Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentArticle content“We know this country’s grid was built for a different era, fragmented and disconnected, built really with a north-south orientation, overwhelmingly, where the power is much easier to flow north-south into the U.S. instead of flowing to each other as Canadians,” Lecce said. Article contentPosthasteBreaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentThe MOU aims to build national infrastructure and intertie projects that connect the provinces’ and territories’ energy grids, he said, and to develop “intentional policy” to expand electricity trade within Canada before selling power to the U.S. or abroad. Article contentOntario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Yukon, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories have signed on to the agreement. Article contentJoking that the weather in Ontario feels “balmy” compared to back home, Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ted Laking, said his province used more than 90 per cent of its available electricity capacity in December when temperatures dipped as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius for more than a week. Article content“When it gets that cold, industrial customers like mines must disconnect from the grid to ensure that we have enough electricity to meet the needs of Yukon’s residents,” Laking said. “I share this to underline the importance of today’s agreement. In Canada’s north, energy security is not a theoretical risk. It is a real and serious vulnerability.” Article contentArticle contentNew Brunswick Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy René Legacy said his province is the “backstop” for energy in Atlantic Canada and already has transmission interties with Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. However, scale is a problem for the region. Article contentRead More Ontario launches review of critical minerals strategy Mining industry has golden opportunity to prove its value: Vale CEO Article content“A kilometre of transmission line costs the same, whether you have 400,000 rate payers or you have four million, so we need to work in partnership,” Legacy said. Article contentLecce said the agreement will also advocate for financial support from the federal government to build transmission corridors and for Ottawa to create a national strategy for a “pan-Canadian grid” that connects east-west and north-south. Article contentWhen asked by a reporter why Quebec did not sign the agreement, Lecce said the province’s government has “expressed support” for the policy but wants to emphasize that resources fall under provincial jurisdiction. Article content“We’ll respect that they’ll sign when they’re ready, but we do believe we’re in a much better place where Quebec supports the concept of the federal government and the provinces work together to reduce costs and maximize benefits for their ratepayers,” Lecce said.Article contentWith the agreement in place, he said the provinces can get to work on building a strategy that includes costs and timelines. Article content“We’ve got a problem, we’ve agreed to the problem definition, we agreed to a mechanism to fix it,” said Lecce. “The next step now is for the system planners to go off, build the strategy, figure out the intertie connections.” Article contentTrending Posthaste: This dormant pipeline needs to be restarted for the sake of Canada, economists say News Legal fight over propane terminal clouds Canada's energy export push Energy Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year: Canadian Tire chief Greg Hicks CEO of the Year Mortgage renewal headwinds near a ‘turning point’ for pandemic buyers, report says Mortgages Housing affordability improves yet again, though not for the right reasons Real Estate Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Posthaste: This dormant pipeline needs to be restarted for the sake of Canada, economists say News Legal fight over propane terminal clouds Canada's energy export push Energy Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year: Canadian Tire chief Greg Hicks CEO of the Year Mortgage renewal headwinds near a ‘turning point’ for pandemic buyers, report says Mortgages Housing affordability improves yet again, though not for the right reasons Real Estate