Canada National Nuclear Strategy 2026

Canada is initiating a "nuclear renaissance" with a national strategy to build up to 10 new nuclear reactors over the next 15 years. This initiative is designed to double the capacity of Canada's electrical grid by 2050 and transition the country toward a low-carbon economy.

Reactor Deployment and Infrastructure Goals

Canada aims to significantly expand its nuclear footprint to provide reliable baseload power. The strategy outlines a phased approach to construction and development:

• Large-Scale Reactors: Construction is slated to begin on two new large-scale reactors by 2035, with an additional five reactors planned or under development by 2040.
• Geographic Expansion: At least one new reactor must be under construction outside of Ontario by 2035.
• Microreactors: The government intends to finalize a Canadian-made microreactor by 2035, with deployment to a remote community expected by the late 2030s.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs): A proposed facility at the Darlington plant in Ontario aims to be the first SMR in the G7, capable of producing up to 300 megawatts per unit. Saskatchewan is also exploring SMR implementation by the mid-2030s.

Economic Impact and Funding

The expansion of nuclear energy is projected to be a major economic driver, though it requires substantial capital investment.

• Job Creation: The federal government expects employment in the nuclear sector to double from approximately 90,000 jobs to over 180,000 jobs in the coming decades.
• Estimated Costs: Officials from Natural Resources Canada estimate that the construction of these reactors could cost more than $100 billion.
• Funding Sources: While a specific payment plan is not detailed in the strategy, officials have identified the Canada Growth Fund and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank as potential funding sources.

Global Strategy and Uranium Exports

Canada intends to use its nuclear technology as a geopolitical tool to strengthen international ties and diversify trade.

• Candu Reactor Exports: The strategy aims to break into at least four new international markets by 2040 and engage six to 10 new nuclear entrant markets over 15 years. There are currently 30 Candu reactors operating globally in countries including South Korea, China, India, Argentina, Pakistan, and Romania.
• Uranium Strategy: Canada seeks to double its uranium exports. If Candu reactor sales do not meet targets, the government will explore boosting domestic uranium enrichment to supply other reactor types, particularly as Western allies seek alternatives to Russian enriched uranium.

Governance and Regulatory Challenges

The strategy faces political scrutiny and regulatory hurdles regarding its implementation and oversight.

• Ethics Oversight: Prime Minister Mark Carney was not involved in developing the strategy due to an ethics screen. This is because Carney holds assets in Brookfield Corporation and Brookfield Asset Management, which co-own a reactor model that competes with the Candu design.
• Regulatory Reform: The government has proposed transferring impact assessments for nuclear projects from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. This proposal is currently under consultation following pushback from Indigenous and environmental groups.
• Political Opposition: Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has criticized the plan, arguing that announcements are not results and calling for the repeal of "anti-development laws" to ensure the production of affordable electricity.