Premier Doug Ford's government has given Ontario Power Generation the green light to start construction on Canada’s first small modular reactor, a new nuclear technology to be built next door to the Darlington power plant.

Ontario is starting to build the first of four new, small nuclear reactors, as Canada seeks to lead the Group of Seven industrialized nations in developing next-generation nuclear technology.

Canada's federal government said Thursday it approved a C$20.9B (~US$15.1B) plan to begin construction of the first small modular nuclear power plant to be deployed by a G-7 country, providing a significant shot in the arm for the young industry.