Canada needs a nuclear energy strategy

Justin Trudeau’s government, as many have remarked, is distinguished by its interconnected ministerial mandates. This is good for sharing responsibilities for important political objectives and priorities. However, this could pose a challenge if the objectives are not underpinned by a unifying strategy that recognizes and uses the technologies and tools at hand. This is the case with Canada’s nuclear energy sector. The nuclear industry contributes significantly to the federal government’s policy priorities. But without a guiding strategy, the practical solutions offered by Canada’s nuclear technology and expertise are often under-used. A Canadian nuclear energy strategy would, first, recognize the role of nuclear energy throughout the government’s energy and climate change policies. Nearly every serious fact-based and scientific analysis of how a country can most quickly, efficiently, and reliably decarbonize its economy points to the need for nuclear power. In Canada, 17 per cent of the country’s electricity is nuclear-generated; and 20 per cent of Canada’s clean (virtually zero emissions) electricity is nuclear-powered. Consider that the Candu reactors using Canadian technology and parts operating both inside and outside of Canada have displaced millions of tons of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases over the years. This energy resource has, for years, been Canada’s substantial global contribution to tackling climate change. A nuclear energy strategy would leverage and expand this role, for the good of the planet. Second, a nuclear energy strategy would integrate the trade benefits from having this resource and our own technology to go with it. International civil nuclear co-operation is as much about building political relationships and bilateral engagement. It involves not just a foreign customer, but also its government, reflecting the importance of energy supply to that country’s economy. A nuclear energy strategy would unite sector-specific support for our technology and uranium fuel exports with foreign policy goals. This would be complemented by Canada’s regulatory expertise in safety and non-proliferation, along with its high operational standards in all aspects of civil nuclear power. These assets, and the Candu brand generally, have garnered worldwide recognition and respect. A strategy would identify where we can deploy such assets further in the interests of international security and safety. In the context of relations with the United States, close civil nuclear co-operation can be an area to focus on apart from current NAFTA frictions; many northern U.S. states have important energy interactions with Canada. Third, a strategy would integrate the domestic impact of the highly skilled jobs, engineering prowess, and innovative research and development that accompany Canada’s nuclear sector. An example of this substantial economic impact can be seen in the refurbishment of four reactors at the Darlington plant. This large clean infrastructure investment will, over the next 10 years, boost Ontario’s GDP by almost $90-billion and create an average of 14,200 new jobs per year over the same period. A strategy would also recognize the social impact of nuclear technology. Few Canadians realize that the nuclear reactors at Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering station produce Cobalt-60, which is vital in the treatment of cancer. Canadian company Nordion is the world’s leading supplier of Cobalt-60, a significant contribution to global health. What other Canadian energy system treats cancer and saves lives? Fourth, a strategy would be the means of translating vision into policy guidance and action. The vision of Canada’s nuclear industry is to provide Canadians, wherever they live, with unlimited clean and reliable energy for them to pursue fulfilling lives. Whether the energy is needed for off-grid mining sites, or for providing clean, reliable baseload power that eliminates the need for fossil-fuel plants and enables the expansion of renewable sources of electricity, nuclear energy has a role. These are components of a nuclear energy strategy. What is needed is for government, industry, and key stakeholders to work these into a unified strategy, possibly through a nuclear innovation council. Such a strategy would steer stronger policy development as well as develop a roadmap to guide investment decisions both near- and longer-term. We in the industry would look forward to working with governments, federal and provincial, to achieve the many priorities we share for a clean-energy Canada. John Barrett is president and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Association. The Hill Times

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Canada needs a nuclear energy strategy

It would maximize a strategic asset.

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