OPG purchases former GM building in Oshawa for new corporate headquarters

On Monday, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) announced they have entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the General Motors of Canada building and surrounding lands in Oshawa.

The building will serve as the company’s new corporate headquarters.

The approximately 285,000 square feet of office space will be retrofitted and is expected to open late next year.

“A lot has changed over the last three years, but what hasn’t changed is our commitment to bringing our team together under one roof to create an even more connected and engaged workforce,” said Ken Hartwick, OPG President and CEO. “Renovating and repurposing a suitable existing building makes sense from both an economic and environmental perspective. We look forward to welcoming employees to our new headquarters in Durham Region.”

The City of Oshawa welcomed the news.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ontario Power Generation’s new corporate headquarters to the City of Oshawa,” said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. “OPG’s announcement continues the diversification of Oshawa’s economy and employment base, bringing further strength to our robust talent pool.”

The move is expected to bring more than 2,000 jobs to Oshawa.

Not everyone is pleased with the decision.

Originally, OPG had announced plans to construct a new headquarters in the Clarington Energy Park, near its Darlington Energy Complex.

OPG say they revisited its plan when an economical, sustainable option of repurposing an existing building became available.

The Municipality of Clarington issued this statement:

The Municipality of Clarington is dismayed and disappointed by the
Province’s unexpected decision to locate the new Ontario Power Generation (OPG) corporate headquarters outside Clarington.

In 2019, the Provincial Government, alongside OPG, announced plans to build a consolidated headquarters in Clarington, which would bring more than 2,000 jobs to the community. Since that time, this commitment has been a central part of planning for growth and economic development for Clarington — and the loss of revenue and infrastructure to the community will directly impact our community’s plan.

“The Municipality of Clarington has been a host community of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station for 30 years, and we were pleased when the Province – together with OPG — made a public commitment to build their Headquarters in our community,” said Clarington CAO Mary-Anne Dempster. “Going back on that decision — without any kind of
consultation or even a warning — not only deprives our community of investment, but it sets a troubling precedent for future partnerships.”

Over the coming weeks, staff and Council at the Municipality of Clarington will assess the extent of the impact of this move and consider the next steps we will take on behalf of our
community.

Statement from Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster:

We are deeply disappointed in the decision to rescind the commitment to build a new corporate headquarters for Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in Clarington.

Clarington Council and the local business community have worked for decades to support OPG and the nuclear industry. I cannot begin to convey how discouraged we are with the lack of local engagement in this decision.
I understand the business case in the reversal to build headquarters in Clarington, but it’s shocking that neither OPG nor the Government of Ontario recognized the ramifications that our community faces. We hope to be able to work with OPG, the industry and the Province of Ontario to rebuild trust and create a plan to help limit the negative impact that our community will suffer.