As Ontario positions itself as a global hub for critical minerals, access to reliable, scalable, and low-carbon power is becoming a defining factor for project viability. This panel brings together leaders from utilities, Indigenous communities, transmission and distribution providers, and infrastructure developers to explore how collaboration can accelerate energy development, reduce risk, and ensure equitable benefits across regions.

• As demand from the critical minerals sector grows, how is Ontario’s electricity system adapting its planning and investment priorities to meet that need?
• How are plans evolving for long-term transmission planning and infrastructure investments to support the anticipated surge in demand from critical minerals development, particularly in remote and underserved regions?
• What energy infrastructure plans are taking shape in Northern Ontario, and how are Indigenous communities looking to shape and benefit from these developments?
• How are energy infrastructure projects being financed, and what role can public-private partnerships and Indigenous ownership play in de-risking investments?
• How are transmission capacity and connection timelines impacting site selection, permitting, and investor confidence in new projects?
• What coordination mechanisms exist—or could be enhanced—to better align mining development timelines with long-term energy system planning across government, utilities, and Indigenous communities?
• How can Ontario ensure new energy infrastructure delivers both industrial power and sustainable benefits for Indigenous and local communities?