Nuclear Ambitions Clash With Radioactive Legacy in Port Hope

Ontario's push for nuclear expansion is colliding with a legacy of environmental neglect in Port Hope, proving that 'green energy' transitions cannot ignore the trauma of radioactive contamination.

**The Proposal and the Promise** Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky have championed a proposed nuclear power plant as a cornerstone for a resilient energy future. According to reporting from CBC Toronto and Global News Toronto, the provincially owned Ontario Power Generation (OPG) aims to build what could become the world's largest nuclear power station.

According to OPG's project description, the site's power-generating capacity could reach 10,000 megawatts, dwarfing the roughly 6,500 megawatts generated by the eight Bruce Power reactors in Kincardine, Ont. OPG spokesperson Neal Kelly stated the project would support over 10,500 jobs province-wide and contribute approximately $235 billion to Ontario's GDP over its lifespan. The province anticipates OPG will seek construction and operation licenses in the 2030s, with operations beginning in the 2040s.

**A History of Contamination** For many residents, these promises ring hollow against a backdrop of historical exploitation. CBC Toronto reports that the Eldorado mining company opened a radium refinery in Port Hope in the 1930s. By the 1940s, the plant shifted to refining uranium for the U.S. military's Manhattan Project to produce the first atomic bombs.

Over several decades, the plant dumped contaminated rocks, soil, and building materials across the town. These materials were used as backfill for roads, schools, parks, and private homes. Faye More, a 75-year-old resident, told both CBC Toronto and Global News Toronto that she grew up and raised a family in homes contaminated by this waste. More expressed outrage at the government's celebratory tone, stating the community has felt "invisible" for roughly 80 years regarding plant operations and feels "expendable" as the province expands nuclear capacity.

**The Regulatory Divide** Local and provincial officials argue that the proposed plant in the Wesleyville neighbourhood is entirely separate from the town's radioactive waste past. Mayor Olena Hankivsky noted that the ongoing cleanup—the Port Hope Area Initiative implemented by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories on behalf of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.—addresses a "historic legacy challenge," while the new project would follow modern, "world-leading standards."

Neal Kelly of OPG emphasized that current industry operations are governed by one of the most stringent regulatory frameworks in the world. This sentiment was echoed by Chris Malcolmson, acting health physics director at McMaster University, who told Global News Toronto that the benefits of the new plant "far outweigh" potential safety risks. Malcolmson noted that while low-level radioactive waste is being cleaned up because it "slightly" exceeds "unconditional clearance levels," the actual risks associated with these materials are "extremely low."

Despite these assurances, residents like More maintain that the community, already home to two nuclear operations and a decades-long remediation project, cannot sustain another plant.