2026-May-07
GBA Attends Hydro One Transmission Line Open Houses
Following our initial report on the proposed 300-km high-voltage transmission line from Sudbury to Barrie, GBA has been on the ground at recent public consultations. In April, GBA Board Member Andy Metelka attended the in-person community open houses in Barrie and Parry Sound, while both Andy and GBA Executive Director Meredith Denning participated in the virtual open house on April 21.
During these sessions, Hydro One staff presented project overviews and fielded questions from the public. The most frequent questions from attendees centered on:
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The Route: Where exactly will the new towers go?
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The Existing Line: What happens to the current infrastructure?
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Economic Impact: Will there be local benefits or just local disruption?
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Environmental Risks: How will habitats be protected?
New Project Timeline
Hydro One has confirmed that while the project is a “priority,” it is still in the very early stages. For residents and property owners, here is the revised outlook for the project:
- Late 2026: Hydro One will propose a series of potential routes – the public will be invited to a second round of comments at this time
- 2027: A preferred route will be officially selected
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2027–2028: Formal Regulatory Approvals and Environmental Assessment (EA) processes will begin
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2029: Targeted start date for construction
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2032: Estimated date for the line to be in service
GBA formally submitted comments to the provincial government (ERO #025-0656) regarding the proposed fast-tracking of two new transmission lines. While GBA supports the goal of strengthening Ontario’s electrical grid to support economic growth, we have identified three critical areas of concern regarding the current proposal:
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Significant Environmental Impact – expanding the existing corridor requires extensive tree removal, leading to habitat loss and increased erosion. We are particularly concerned about the impact on Blackstone Lake and surrounding inland ecosystems
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Inadequate Consultation – the 2025 comment period did not provide sufficient notice to many affected property owners and community groups
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Prioritizing Ecology in Decision-Making – GBA believes environmental protection must remain a central factor in infrastructure planning, even when projects are “fast-tracked”
In our submission, we included a detailed technical proposal from GBA Director, Andy Metelka. His report outlines alternative engineering solutions that could potentially increase transmission capacity with a smaller environmental footprint than the current two-line plan. GBA is calling on the IESO and provincial officials to thoroughly evaluate these viable alternatives and give full consideration to the long-term environmental costs before proceeding with construction in 2026.
Read GBA’s submission letter here and Andy Metelka’s proposal here.
Learn more about the Barrie to Sudbury transmission line project here.