TORONTO – Surging nuclear power projects and massive transit expansions top out ReNew Canada magazine’s 2026 Top100 Projects Report, which highlights a record-breaking $43-billion annual increase.
The report reveals the total value of Canada’s largest public infrastructure projects has reached $343 billion. This represents the largest year-over-year jump in the report’s 20-year history, a release notes.
The main driver behind this mega-dollar increase? Nuclear energy.
Nearly $50 billion of the total value is attributed to a pair of Ontario nuclear initiatives: the Pickering Generating Station Refurbishment and the Darlington New Nuclear Project. Along with refurbishments at Bruce Power and Darlington, nuclear projects make up four of the top six spots on the 2026 list.
However, while these projects are significant, transit remains the largest sector leader by value, with 25 projects nationwide totalling $123 billion. It is followed by buildings (36 projects, $81 billion) and energy (10 projects, $80 billion).
Some transit newcomers include Calgary’s relaunched Green Line LRT, Toronto’s Yonge-North Subway Extension and the federal government’s Alto High-Speed Rail Network.
In general, 12 new projects worth $70 billion joined the list this year, including four energy, four buildings and four transit projects.
Here is a teaser of the Top100 projects, with the top 10:
- Pickering Generating Station Refurbishment– $26.8 billion
- Darlington New Nuclear Project– $20.9 billion
- GO Expansion – On-Corridor Works– $15.7 billion
- Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital– $14 billion
- Bruce Power Refurbishment– $13 billion
- Darlington Nuclear Refurbishment– $12.8 billion
- Ontario Line– $11 billion
- GO Expansion – Early Works– $10.5 billion
- Réseau express métropolitain– $9.4 billion
- Montreal Metro Blue Line East Extension– $7.6 billion
“The 2026 report marks a historic milestone for Canadian infrastructure,” said John Tenpenny, editor of ReNew Canada, in a statement. “The massive scale of investment in nuclear energy and the continued dominance of the transit sector demonstrate a national commitment to long-term energy security and sustainable urban mobility.”
Industry leaders will gather to celebrate at the annual Top100 Projects Key Players and Owners Dinner on Feb. 24 at The Carlu in Toronto. A second event will be held in Vancouver on May 12.
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