CAMPAIGN: Canada's Nuclear Future (2023) Archives - HiveInnovates https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/topic/campaign-canadas-nuclear-future-2023/ Mon, 08 Apr 2024 13:01:56 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/cdn-site.mediaplanet.com/app/uploads/sites/114/2019/08/08002146/cropped-Icon-IC-32x32.png CAMPAIGN: Canada's Nuclear Future (2023) Archives - HiveInnovates https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/topic/campaign-canadas-nuclear-future-2023/ 32 32 How AECL Is Driving Nuclear Opportunity for Canada https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/how-aecl-is-driving-nuclear-opportunity-for-canada/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=51869 Atomic Energy of Canada Limited continues to drive nuclear innovation, over 70 years after its formation. At the dawn of the atomic age, the Canadian government created a new crown corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), with a mandate to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy. “AECL was created by an Act of Parliament … Continued

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Amy Gottschling 

Vice-President, Science, Technology, & Commercial Oversight, AECL


Atomic Energy of Canada Limited continues to drive nuclear innovation, over 70 years after its formation.

At the dawn of the atomic age, the Canadian government created a new crown corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), with a mandate to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

“AECL was created by an Act of Parliament in 1952,” says Amy Gottschling, Vice-President of Science, Technology, and Commercial Oversight at AECL. “Its mandate was to define, direct, and build the nuclear industry for Canada. It was a driver and a technology push, building on that domestic security framework that was so needed at the time.” From demonstrating the first initial fission reactions to building the first demonstration nuclear power plant to ultimately designing the CANDU reactors, which remain in operation in Canada and internationally, AECL effectively established Canada’s nuclear industry.

An evolving mission

Today, AECL still plays a vital leadership role in the nuclear sector, and owns Canada’s largest nuclear science and technology laboratory. Its role has evolved, though. AECL continues to own the Intellectual Property of the CANDU reactors that it developed and deployed in Canada and abroad over decades, and which was licensed to AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin) in 2011. In 2015, AECL contracted out the operations and management of its facilities and assets to a private company — in effect, AECL became leaner and more efficient in fulfilling its mandates.

“We moved to a government-owned, contractor-operated model, which was really to drive efficiency and value for Canada,” says Gottschling. The site management and operations of the national nuclear lab at Chalk River Laboratories, which remains an internationally recognized nuclear science and technology campus, have been contracted out to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). And from thousands of employees initially, AECL now has a team of 45 highly qualified employees that oversee the contract and implement AECL’s strategic direction, vision, and mission.

If our role used to be to define and direct the nuclear industry writ large, we now feel our role is more to enable, nurture, facilitate, advise, guide, and support Canada’s nuclear sector by using the expertise we have from our legacy of nuclear in any way we can.

One of AECL’s core missions today is to protect the environment and care for the land by fulfilling the Government of Canada’s obligations for AECL’s legacy radioactive waste and decommissioned sites. It also has a mandate to enable nuclear science and technology, and to innovate and advance nuclear technologies that benefit and improve the lives of Canadians. Finally, revitalizing Chalk River Laboratories is a top priority for AECL.

Harnessing the power of nuclear innovation

“If our role used to be to define and direct the nuclear industry writ large, we now feel our role is more to enable, nurture, facilitate, advise, guide, and support Canada’s nuclear sector by using the expertise we have from our legacy of nuclear in any way we can,” says Gottschling.

AECL’s current strategic plan includes three core pillars: investing in its capabilities and environmental duties, driving the future of nuclear in Canada, and facilitating nuclear innovation to the benefit of the public good. Here’s an idea of what that looks like: AECL is using its nuclear expertise at CNL to help enable and advance the small modular reactor (SMR) community, it heavily enables the existing fleet of CANDU reactors in Canada, it supports the hydrogen infrastructure in Canada, it’s driving the fusion ecosystem in Canada, it fosters cooperation and enhances collaboration between stakeholders to drive innovation, and it’s a leader in life-saving medical isotope production and distribution.

Building relationships

Ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities and stakeholders is fundamental to delivering AECL’s mandate. “We’re committed to building collaborative relationships based on the recognition of rights, on a foundation of respect, truth, cooperation, trust, and partnership,” says Gottschling. Building relationships that benefit its local communities is also very important to AECL — as seen through, for example, its relationship with Deep River, Ont. Deep River was the residential community of AECL employees located at Chalk River, and is now a thriving, fully incorporated town. “The families who live in Deep River and the surrounding Chalk River community are part of the fabric of who we are and what we stand for, so it’s important for us to nurture those relationships,” says Gottschling.


To learn more about how AECL is driving nuclear opportunity for Canada, visit aecl.ca.

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Q&A with Shane Chegahno: Why Indigenous Voices Matter in Nuclear https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/qa-with-shane-chegahno-why-indigenous-voices-matter-in-nuclear/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=50894 Mediaplanet chatted with Shane Chegahno, Vice-President of the Makwa Development Corporation, about what a more inclusive nuclear energy sector looks like, why Indigenous involvement and engagement are so critical, and how more opportunities for Indigenous youth and communities can be fostered. Learn more at makwadevelopment.ca.

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Shane Chegahno

Vice-President, Makwa Development Corporation


Mediaplanet chatted with Shane Chegahno, Vice-President of the Makwa Development Corporation, about what a more inclusive nuclear energy sector looks like, why Indigenous involvement and engagement are so critical, and how more opportunities for Indigenous youth and communities can be fostered.

How is Makwa Development Corporation fostering a more inclusive nuclear energy sector?

As a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned company from the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, which is part of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, we saw a unique opportunity between the Indigenous workforce and the nuclear energy sector. Our traditional territory is host to the secondlargest operating nuclear facilities in the world, and we felt the need to open a new path to the industry for Indigenous and local workers. We create strategic business partnerships with industry companies, and then create opportunities for the Indigenous and local workforce, which in turn provides great value to the energy sector by localizing the workforce required to execute the projects.

Can you highlight some of the positive shifts you’ve observed in recent years in terms of Indigenous involvement and engagement in energy projects, and what further improvements are needed going forward?

We can see the differences in today’s energy landscape compared to a decade ago. Indigenous Nations and companies have evolved beyond the minimum requirements of engagement, consultation, and the checkbox exercise. Canada’s energy infrastructure is now an elaborate strategy of equity-sharing, partnerships, and Indigenous-owned projects. As this process continues to evolve, there are still opportunities for improvement. There’s a need for a Federal Indigenous Major Project Loan Guarantee Instrument to assist Indigenous Nations in participating as equal partners in this process to achieve economic reconciliation, and it is always helpful to ensure companies have access to the required support to understand Indigenous culture, values, and world views as these are front and centre in the success of the project.

Why is it so important for organizations in the energy sector to have Indigenous voices present on their teams, and how does this contribute to more sustainable and mutually beneficial outcomes?

No person is better equipped to advocate and understand Indigenous people than another Indigenous person. There are unique benefits to having Indigenous voices present on teams working in engagement, consultation, and projects. The oral tradition of sharing and teaching in Indigenous culture is still a practice and represents many of a community’s values. Organizations may have policy but there are small nuances that policy cannot capture. Indigenous voices can articulate what is not captured in policy, providing context and meaning that aids in understanding, which will lead to a more meaningful outcome.

What is Makwa doing to create more opportunities for Indigenous youth and to build true wealth in Indigenous communities?

The nuclear power industry is growing at a rapid pace and is poised to support our energy demands today and into the future as we strive to meet our climate action goals. Today, we’re seeing Canada at the forefront of new nuclear, with the deployment of small modular reactors in several provinces, as well as the plans for large conventional nuclear taking shape. Nuclear energy is critical to our net-zero goals and will provide safe, reliable baseload electricity. It will support and complement other clean-energy sources, such as wind, solar, and renewables. The nuclear industry is innovative and dynamic and poised for growth as we work to meet our clean energy demands in the future. 

This is only the beginning of our vision.


Learn more at makwadevelopment.ca.

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Indigenous Communities Participating in Canada’s Nuclear Future https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/indigenous-communities-participating-in-canadas-nuclear-future/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=52508 Two historic equity agreements were signed between a Mi’kmaq Tribal Council and leading advanced small modular reactor companies. As more high intensity weather events hit Atlantic Canada, the electricity grid and infrastructure is increasingly under pressure, yet expected to remain reliable and resilient for customers. Existing nuclear and hydro facilities are particularly important for a … Continued

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Two historic equity agreements were signed between a Mi’kmaq Tribal Council and leading advanced small modular reactor companies.

As more high intensity weather events hit Atlantic Canada, the electricity grid and infrastructure is increasingly under pressure, yet expected to remain reliable and resilient for customers.

Existing nuclear and hydro facilities are particularly important for a highly electrified New Brunswick, to meet extreme daily and seasonal demand peaks. As the province moves to meet several federal emission reduction regulations including the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation, a secure energy system becomes critical and ever more challenging.

Investments in new generation must be made, which will come from renewable sources with battery storage along with new nuclear, such as flexible advanced small modular reactors (SMRs).

No one understands the impact of climate change more than First Nations people. And in New Brunswick, Indigenous communities are taking concrete steps to reduce reliance on carbon-emitting technology, at the same time as building a legacy for people, communities and the environment.

On September 25, 2023, the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC) and its seven First Nation member communities announced equity agreements with Moltex Energy Canada Inc. (Moltex) and ARC Clean Technology Canada, Inc (ARC) to share in the companies’ success in developing and deploying advanced nuclear technology in New Brunswick and around the world. 

The New Brunswick Advantage

NB Power, New Brunswick’s provincial Crown utility, is undergoing an environmental impact assessment process to install an ARC-100 advanced small modular reactor at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station.

Many jurisdictions are developing new nuclear, but New Brunswick is positioned to be a leader in large part because of its existing nuclear experience, skilled workforce and training programs. The province also has support and guidance from those who will ensure new nuclear development will be in harmony with environmental and community interests.

It is important to consider the realities of developing new nuclear. Not only will it take significant private investment and commitment from government, it will take leadership, community buy-in and economic reconciliation with First Nation communities. The historical nature of the NSMTC announcement demonstrates leadership to address the urgency necessary to transform New Brunswick’s energy system and adopt new clean technology.

Important steps like the development of a regional SMR supply chain and preparing manufacturing companies to operate in the nuclear sector, including Indigenous-led organizations, are on-the-ground activities that support New Brunswick’s bid to power the economy and the world with clean energy.

And the world is taking notice.  

Powering the world from the east coast

With a solid energy plan in support of SMRs and Indigenous economic inclusion, New Brunswick is attracting investment in the energy sector, creating jobs and growing wealth from the global energy transition to Canada’s east coast.


To learn more, visit atlanticaenergy.org.

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Navigating the Challenges of Nuclear Transport in Canada: The Issue of Delay and Denial of Shipments https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/navigating-the-challenges-of-nuclear-transport-in-canada-the-issue-of-delay-and-denial-of-shipments/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=52496 The importance of nuclear transport  Nuclear and radioactive shipments play a crucial role in various industries worldwide. Without the shipment of nuclear and radioactive materials, patients may not receive necessary medical treatments, scientific advancements may be hindered, and industrial applications may be disrupted. It is important to recognise the significance of these shipments and the … Continued

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Kurtis Hinz

CEO TAM International LP
Member of the IAEA Denial of Shipment Working Group
WNTI Member

Captain Simon Chaplin

World Nuclear Transport Institute
Member of the IAEA Denial of Shipment Working Group

Emily Midgley

World Nuclear Transport Institute
Member of the IAEA Denial of Shipment Working Group


The importance of nuclear transport 

Nuclear and radioactive shipments play a crucial role in various industries worldwide. Without the shipment of nuclear and radioactive materials, patients may not receive necessary medical treatments, scientific advancements may be hindered, and industrial applications may be disrupted. It is important to recognise the significance of these shipments and the potential consequences of delaying or denying shipments.

In a collaborative effort with industry representatives from Canada, as well as global experts and member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Denial of Shipment Working Group, the World Nuclear Transport Institute is actively addressing the issue of delay and denial of shipments and aims for a resolution to keep nuclear moving!

Delay and denial of shipment in Canada 

Canada is the home to a robust nuclear power infrastructure, some of the richest uranium reserves in the world and a global leader in medical isotope production. That said, the denial and delay for transportation of these vital materials in Canada are real and significant. It can range from the current rejection of radioactive material on both of the national rail lines to significant restrictions and denials at various Canadian ocean ports. There is also a continued limited fleet of trucking companies that can accommodate the specialization and insurance required to make these shipments. These restrictions are significant and continually threaten the smooth flow of material that is needed in life saving medical technology along with being a massive contributor to carbon free energy production. All these issues combined lead down the path to a fragile supply chain.

The regulatory framework for nuclear transport in Canada 

In order to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of nuclear materials in Canada, a strong regulatory framework has been established. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is responsible for overseeing the transport of nuclear materials and enforcing regulations to mitigate risks. The regulatory framework includes stringent requirements for packaging, labelling, and documentation, as well as the qualification and training of personnel involved in the transport process. Additionally, the CNSC collaborates with international organisations, such as the IAEA, to harmonise regulations and share best practices. Despite this strict regulatory framework that maintains the highest level of safety and security in transporting nuclear and radioactive materials, the issue of delay and denials of shipments persists.

How is Canada approaching these issues? 

The key has been education of our current fleet of carriers and logistics partners. While there has been significant investment in training and education, there continues to be a need for continued education of the public in terms of understanding all aspects of this industry including it’s impeccable safety record and the necessity of nuclear energy to attain our Carbon targets. Part of that education is the need to open more options for the safe and efficient transport options for radioactive material. With education of the necessity of these services as our guiding light, we need to work collaboratively across the industry and government to ensure this vital supply chain remains strong for the industry’s inevitable growth.


To find out more, visit: wnti.co.uk/industry/delays-and-denials-of-shipments/.

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Q&A with Dr. Chris Keefer on the Life-Saving Benefits of Nuclear https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/powering-canadas-future/qa-with-dr-chris-keefer-on-the-life-saving-benefits-of-nuclear-2/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=51933 Dr. Chris Keefer shares with Mediaplanet why Canada needs to adopt nuclear — from cleaner air and a cooler climate to life-saving medical isotopes. 

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chris keefer hs

Dr. Chris Keefer, M.D.

President, Canadians for Nuclear Energy & Emergency Physician


Dr. Chris Keefer shares with Mediaplanet why Canada needs to adopt nuclear — from cleaner air and a cooler climate to life-saving medical isotopes. 

Starting your career as an emergency physician, what sparked your interest in advocating for nuclear energy?

Ontario’s electricity grid used to be 25 per cent coal-powered, and we operated the largest coal plant in North America, contributing to 54 smog days a year in my hometown of Toronto. I grew up with an asthmatic friend who barely left his house all summer because our air quality was so poor. Over the course of my early medical career, we eliminated coal burning in Ontario, something very few jurisdictions around the world have been able to do, but it was only years later that I learned how we got rid of coal. Ontario accomplished this feat by using nuclear energy, which provided 90 per cent of the power required to permanently eliminate coal. 

We take the air we all breathe for granted. Burning coal has numerous health impacts, from asthma and emphysema to heart attacks, strokes, and even cancer. The Ontario Medical Association estimates that a thousand lives per year could be saved, and tens of thousands of hospital admissions could be avoided by phasing out coal. During my clinical practice, I directly witnessed the benefits of clean air and came to understand that nuclear energy literally saved thousands of lives right here in Ontario since it produces no air pollution. 

However, my initial discovery of nuclear energy as something that could be a positive thing came around the time of the birth of my child. I was thinking a lot about climate change and wanted to do something about it. Being a science geek, I started researching the solutions for climate change. I learned that the fundamental solution is to develop an ultra-clean electricity grid and electrify as much of our economy as possible. I learned that right in my backyard in Ontario, we had done just that with our electricity grid which uses nuclear for 65 per cent of its power generation. 

Why nuclear energy? 

Nuclear ticks all of the boxes we should care about in our modern world. It’s an environmentalist’s dream because there’s no air pollution, and you can produce an astounding amount of energy with the least possible mining and the smallest land footprint. The three power plants that provide 65 per cent of Ontario’s electricity are each about the size of a large shopping mall. Nuclear uses a fraction of the concrete, steel, and rare earth minerals compared to other low-carbon sources like wind and solar, which means the lowest disturbance to our natural world.

The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station essentially generates the electricity requirements for most of Toronto on the footprint the size of a Costco shopping centre. This is because Uranium is a million times more energy dense than coal, for instance. The amount of uranium that one of the world’s largest nuclear plants — the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario — uses every day could fit inside one oil barrel.

Nuclear power also provides Canada with an incredible economic advantage. Canada has innovated its own nuclear technology and design — the CANDU reactor — with a 96 per cent made in Canada supply chain. This gives us complete energy security and an incredible economic multiplier effect. Every dollar we invest in CANDU generates $1.40 of economic activity. Nuclear is great for the environment and economy, and that’s a rare mix.

There’s also the question of a just transition for fossil fuel workers. Jobs in wind and solar tend to be low-skill, low paying, and transient. There are, after all, no parking lots outside of a wind or solar farm. Nuclear offers fossil fuel workers equally well-paying, high-skilled jobs producing the lowest carbon form of electricity on the planet. These jobs are inter-generational, family-supporting, and mostly unionized. Nuclear truly is the just transition.

Finally, it’s important to consider alternative clean energy sources when asking, “why nuclear?” With wind and solar, the reality is that these power sources don’t produce energy reliably, and they become critically reliant on backup, which must be capable of supplying 100 per cent of energy needs when wind and sun don’t co-operate, which is not a rare occurrence. This means that you simply cannot retire reliable power stations like gas and coal plants, which is borne out by the experience of Germany and California, where despite large-scale investments in wind and solar, fossil fuel plants cannot be retired.

Nuclear energy offers us clean air, a cooler climate, and life-saving medical isotopes. With a supply chain that’s 96 per cent made in Canada and high-quality jobs, we can achieve our environmental goals, a healthy economy, and a truly just transition for Canadian workers.

What about the waste?

People are concerned about the waste, but we produce a vanishingly small amount of it. All of the high-level nuclear waste that we’ve ever produced in Canada would fit in one hockey rink stacked one telephone pole high.

Nuclear waste is very dangerous fresh out of the reactor, and unshielded, it would cause certain death within seconds of exposure. Yet, paradoxically in modern society, we make dangerous things incredibly safe. Consider aviation, for instance. We don’t give a second thought to flying 30,000 feet at close to the speed of sound, above a vast ocean, in a thin-skinned airplane with nowhere to safely land for thousands of kilometres. It’s a lot easier to shield nuclear waste in water-filled pools and then concrete and steel dry casks than to maintain an aircraft with tens of thousands of mission-critical moving parts that must remain in perfect working order. This is borne out by the fact that no one has ever been killed by stored civilian nuclear waste. Despite 4.5 billion passenger flights every year, only several hundred people die annually in aviation accidents.

Nuclear waste rapidly decays. In 10 years 99.9% of the radiation has disappeared. Within 200 years you would get a dose lower than a CT scan by standing next to nuclear waste for one hour. In 600 years you could safely hold nuclear waste in your hand.

The long term solution is either to store the waste deep underground where we can use the rock layers to contain it on geological timescales or reuse it in a type of reactor that can use up the rest of the fuel and produce waste that only needs to be stored for 300 years.

Aside from generating power, how are Canadian nuclear reactors being utilized in health care? 

Canadian engineers have developed and refined the CANDU reactor. It’s a unique reactor in terms of its ability to produce an enormous amount of medical isotopes, which are radioactive elements that we use for cancer therapy and the sterilization of medical devices.  

In Canada, we’ve produced most of the world’s Cobalt-60, which is used to sterilize 40 per cent of the world’s single-use medical devices — from the IV cannula going into someone’s arm to the breathing tubes used in the ICU. Medical isotopes enable modern health care, and modern health care depends on sterile equipment. 

Certain isotopes are also used in Canada as vital cancer therapies. My father is currently being treated with a medical isotope (Lutetium-177) produced at Bruce Power for metastatic prostate cancer. And you can’t just do this in any old power reactor — some research reactors around the world make medical isotopes, but they can’t make the quantities that we can with our CANDUs. So a Canadian nuclear plant is not only pumping out clean electricity and fighting the climate crisis but is also making our air clean and extending my father’s life through this isotope treatment. 

How is Canadians for Nuclear Energy changing the conversation surrounding nuclear?

Canadians for Nuclear Energy is a non-profit, completely independent from the nuclear industry, so we’re able to communicate in a much bolder manner than industry folks. We’ve been very politically active since our founding in 2020. We produced the detailed policy report, “Save Pickering,” which was so influential in the Ontario government’s decision to extend the life of the Pickering nuclear station. This decision will keep five million tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere and safeguard our air quality from the smog produced by natural gas plants. 

We’ve started several House of Commons petitions which required formal written government responses. Our activism around Canada’s Green Bond Framework, which excludes nuclear from green financing alongside sin stocks like tobacco, firearms, and gambling, led to the federal government including nuclear within the mandate of the Canada Infrastructure Bank and additional funding to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to speed up the regulatory frameworks for Small Modular Reactors. So our efforts have been incredibly impactful, and we are just getting started! American anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”


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To Meet Net-Zero Goals for 2050, the World Urgently Needs a Paradigm Shift in Thinking About Nuclear Energy https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/to-meet-net-zero-goals-for-2050-the-world-urgently-needs-a-paradigm-shift-in-thinking-about-nuclear-energy/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=51892 As world leaders seek effective responses to climate change, we are seeing renewed interest in nuclear power — which holds the potential to reduce emissions and help countries achieve their net-zero targets. In particular, small modular reactors (known as SMRs) are emerging as a potential way of delivering clean and reliable energy. SMRs are typically … Continued

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As world leaders seek effective responses to climate change, we are seeing renewed interest in nuclear power — which holds the potential to reduce emissions and help countries achieve their net-zero targets.

In particular, small modular reactors (known as SMRs) are emerging as a potential way of delivering clean and reliable energy.

SMRs are typically smaller than conventional reactors. They offer an innovative way to bring emission-free nuclear energy to both populated and remote areas around the world. SMRs can also support desalination and the production of hydrogen and medical isotopes.

Proponents argue that SMRs can be built relatively quickly and at lower cost while offering flexibility and reliable access to secure energy. But first, this new technology must be considered to be safe, trustworthy, and effective.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversees and regulates the nuclear industry in our country. Its role is to protect people and the environment.

In a world of continuously emerging technologies, the CNSC keeps pace with innovation and uses rigorous reviews and thorough licensing procedures to ensure that nuclear facilities are safe and secure.

The Government of Canada recognizes the potential of SMRs. In the 2022 federal budget, the government allocated $50.7 million over five years to enable the CNSC to strengthen its ability to oversee and regulate this new technology.

The CNSC has been preparing for new nuclear builds for more than a decade — putting in place the rules, requirements, and guidelines that will ensure the safe introduction of SMRs. To that end, we are continuing to collaborate with our federal, provincial, and territorial counterparts to harmonize and streamline efforts across jurisdictions.

We’re also challenging our own approaches to effective regulation. For example, the CNSC is exploring a model where a successful review for one SMR deployed at one site may inform and expedite our review of the same design at subsequent sites in Canada.

International harmonization

Similar thinking on regulating SMRs can and should be applied to international harmonization — not only to support efforts to fight climate change but also to enhance global safety and security.

Many countries are considering the approval and use of SMRs. A more co-operative approach may result in more efficient and effective regulation, with safety as the top priority.

There is a great interest in the deployment of SMRs as part of the energy mix solution to meeting Net Zero 2050 goals. The realization of this vision requires collaboration between regulators, industry and design developers throughout the life cycle, ongoing support for embarking countries, and standardization of SMR designs. The CNSC is leading the way on this new model of international governance in collaboration with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Together as regulators, we can improve efficiency by leveraging and sharing our technical reviews and expertise without losing our regulatory sovereignty. We are also collaborating with the Poland Atomic Energy Agency and the United Kingdom Office for Nuclear Regulation, supporting staff exchanges, and sharing the results of our technical review of the BWRX-300.

Going forward, everyone in the nuclear sector needs to focus on increasing public engagement, education, and trust-building. Strengthening public and community confidence in SMRs — and in the regulatory decision-making that governs them — stands as an imperative. In this regard, the role of the CNSC is to build trust in the regulatory recommendations made by our expert staff.

Nuclear projects will always generate concerns related to waste management, non- proliferation, and other issues. Only through sustained and meaningful engagement with Canadians —including Indigenous Nations and communities — will it be possible to address these concerns fully and transparently.

The CNSC will never compromise its mandate to protect Canadians and our shared environment. By building a modern and effective regulatory framework, by working with our international partners, and — most of all — by putting safety first, we will be ready for SMRs and other innovative solutions that help drive our world toward a net- zero economy.


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Have You Heard of Deep River, Ont.? Learn the Once-Secret Town’s Story https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/have-you-heard-of-deep-river-ont-learn-the-once-secret-towns-story/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=51879 Deep River, Ont., is Canada’s Los Alamos — home of the top-secret Manhattan Project. Today, it’s a growing hub for nuclear innovation in clean energy and medicine. If you saw Oppenheimer this past summer, you remember the fascinating story of Los Alamos, New Mexico. In 1943, Los Alamos was used for the top-secret Manhattan Project, … Continued

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Sue D’Eon

Mayor, Deep River


Deep River, Ont., is Canada’s Los Alamos — home of the top-secret Manhattan Project. Today, it’s a growing hub for nuclear innovation in clean energy and medicine.

If you saw Oppenheimer this past summer, you remember the fascinating story of Los Alamos, New Mexico. In 1943, Los Alamos was used for the top-secret Manhattan Project, a United States expedited multi-million dollar program as part of the WWII war effort.

But did you know that Canada has our very own Los Alamos? Like Los Alamos, the Town of Deep River, Ont., located on a secluded spot along the Ottawa River, was built in secret but with the goal of achieving peaceful nuclear power and medicine initiatives. Both communities are home to some spectacular minds, and each boasts the facilities and activities of a much larger city.

Canada’s first nuclear host community

Construction of Deep River began in 1945, almost at the same time that construction of Chalk River Laboratories began. Deep River was a parallel community to Los Alamos, and the researchers living there were tasked with developing a different kind of nuclear reactor — one which was designed with a priority on peaceful research.

Both the lab and the town were built in relative secrecy by the precursor organization to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, with a fence surrounding the community and a gatehouse. As Canada’s first nuclear host community, Deep River housed — and still houses — scientists, engineers, and technicians working at the lab, along with their families.

A small town with big amenities

“Deep River was designed to attract scientists from all around the world to work at the lab,” says Sue D’Eon, Mayor of Deep River. “As a result, we’re unique in that, for a town of our size, we have a disproportionately large number of recreational facilities, amenities, clubs, and things to do.”

Deep River, while home to just 4,175 people (as of 2021), has an arena, library, ski hill, golf club, curling club, tennis club, squash club, yacht club, symphony orchestra, theatre groups, and more. The town has its own police force, highly acclaimed schools, and a top-rated hospital.

Set in a naturally beautiful location, Deep River is also a haven for those who enjoy outdoor recreation, with plenty of cross-country ski trails, hiking spots, and an annual triathlon. “Deep River caters to all ages,” says D’Eon.

One of the best places to live

Deep River was actually one of the first planned towns in Canada, and its thoughtful design — preserving waterfront views and with a triangular downtown core and curving streets to slow down traffic — still shines brightly today.

“While it was originally a company town, Deep River became an incorporated municipality in 1958,” says D’Eon. “Today, it’s a thriving multi-cultural community with a deep community spirit and a proudly diverse population.” The town’s origin as a nuclear town has created a unique municipal legacy and a powerful sense of self-sufficiency in arts, culture, and sports.

As when it was created, Deep River remains an appealing location for scientists and families to settle. Recently, the town was recognized in several publications, including Moving Waldo and Narcity, as one of the best places to live in Canada based on safety, affordability, and access to recreational facilities and parks.


Learn more at deepriver.ca.

This article is sponsored by AECL.

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Grants and Research Galore: How Waterloo Is Innovating in Nuclear https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/grants-and-research-galore-how-waterloo-is-innovating-in-nuclear/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=51854 The University of Waterloo is becoming a shining star in the nuclear space, with award-winning research initiatives underway. Big things are happening at the University of Waterloo. The university, which is currently number one in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections, continually spurs innovation to solve problems on a global scale. One of the … Continued

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Dr. Charmaine Dean

Vice-President, Research and International, University of Waterloo

Dr. Claudio Cañizares

Professor & Executive Director, Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy


The University of Waterloo is becoming a shining star in the nuclear space, with award-winning research initiatives underway.

Big things are happening at the University of Waterloo. The university, which is currently number one in Canada for experiential learning and employer-student connections, continually spurs innovation to solve problems on a global scale. One of the major ways it’s doing so is through its growing presence and innovation in the nuclear sector.

A growing presence in nuclear

“The University of Waterloo has been a constant presence in the nuclear sector for close to two decades, but our growing research programs related to small modular reactors (SMRs) represent a significant new chapter in research at the university,” says Charmaine Dean, Vice-President of Research and International at the University of Waterloo.

The Ontario government has ramped up investment in nuclear energy production due to the intense energy needs of our communities, and the university has kept pace with complementary research. “We’re actively working with industry and government partners to create a more sustainable future,” says Dean. Indeed, collaboration and partnership underpin the university’s successful approach. “The University of Waterloo has a growing number of important industry partners including Canadian Nuclear Laboratories,” says Claudio Cañizares, a professor and Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE). “Working with industry is our hallmark and we pride ourselves on creating real-world solutions.”

Successful grants

Also representative of the University of Waterloo’s commitment to advancing the technology and management of SMRs, which are well-regarded as promising clean nuclear energy infrastructures, are the school’s four recently received Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grants. The grants award over $1.3 million in federal funding to University of Waterloo researchers, in support of their SMR research.

“SMRs represent a new approach to nuclear technology,” says Cañizares. “They’re expected to be easier and cheaper to deploy, operate, and maintain than current nuclear technology and will be a growing source of energy generation in Ontario as we move toward a net-zero future.”

“These four projects will cover a broad spectrum of SMR research including alloy material science, material surveillance, nuclear safety assessment, and human factor challenges of SMR operators,” says Dean. “They’re prime exemplars of how we aspire to realize our Waterloo at 100 Strategic Vision, which places strong emphasis on understanding, identifying, and mobilizing sustainable solutions for the future of humanity and our planet.”

Exemplary research expertise   

Already, the University of Waterloo’s research expertise is shining in the nuclear space.

“Our growing sector presence was recognized in 2021 when Mahesh Pandey, our University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering Industrial Research Chair, was honoured with the Harold A. Smith Outstanding Contribution Award at an event staged by the Canadian Nuclear Society and the Canadian Nuclear Association,” says Cañizares. An internationally recognized researcher in the field of risk management and life cycle methods, Pandey was celebrated for significant contributions to reliability analysis and probabilistic methodologies for nuclear reactor component behaviour.

“In addition to our recent work on SMRs, we are very active in public policy and equipment safety,” says Cañizares.  “University of Waterloo researchers have been directly addressing the nuclear industry’s need to improve the life-cycle management of nuclear power plant infrastructures,” adds Dean. Many of the university’s award-winning projects focus on reliability analysis and probabilistic methodologies for nuclear reactor component behaviour, leading to significant strides in equipment safety.

The future of nuclear in Canada is bright, and the University of Waterloo is helping lead the way to its safe and sustainable use.


Learn more at uwaterloo.ca.

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How UNB Is Leading the Way in Nuclear Energy Research and Education https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/how-unb-is-leading-the-way-in-nuclear-energy-research-and-education/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=51842 The University of New Brunswick and its Centre for Nuclear Energy Research are delivering world-class education and R&D in nuclear energy. Over the past decade, the federal and provincial governments have come to see nuclear power, and small modular reactors (SMRs) in particular, as an important part of the solution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. … Continued

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Dr. William Cook

Professor, Chair of Chemical Engineering, Director of the CNER, UNB, P. Eng.

Bradley McPherson

Director of Innovation, CNER, UNB, P. Eng.

Dr. Olga Palazhchenko 

Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, CNER, UNB, P. Eng.

Dr. Joshua Leon

Dean of Engineering, UNB, P. Eng.


The University of New Brunswick and its Centre for Nuclear Energy Research are delivering world-class education and R&D in nuclear energy.

Over the past decade, the federal and provincial governments have come to see nuclear power, and small modular reactors (SMRs) in particular, as an important part of the solution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The Centre for Nuclear Energy Research (CNER) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) has emerged as a leader in research and training thanks to a concerted effort to build its capacity that began nearly a decade ago.

In 2014, CNER welcomed a new director, Dr. William Cook, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering. With that transition, the research and development institute began to blossom, growing from a staff of just one to over 25 associates, support staff, and students. 

Throughout the past 30-plus years, UNB has been actively engaged in the nuclear power industry through our research labs and ties with the nuclear industry here in Canada and abroad.

Dr. William Cook

“Throughout the past 30-plus years, UNB has been actively engaged in the nuclear power industry through our research labs and ties with the nuclear industry here in Canada and abroad,” Cook says. And that level of engagement is now higher than ever.

Full steam ahead with nuclear 

Thanks to the launch of the Pan-Canadian Framework for Small Modular Reactors in 2018 and the Government of New Brunswick investing $10 million into SMRs, UNB relaunched its option program in nuclear.

“Recent interest in SMRs was really the motivating factor to reestablish the formal Nuclear Power Option Program and grow our student base, and student interest was astounding,” says Cook.

Today, nuclear-related education and research initiatives at UNB are thriving. The university offers eight courses in the Nuclear Option with plans to double this number by the end of 2024.

With the advancement of SMRs and a shift globally toward decarbonization, new courses like Advanced Nuclear Systems, Nuclear Safety and Reliability, and Nuclear Chemical Processes are paramount to educating tomorrow’s workforce and decision- and policymakers.

Bradley McPherson

“Traditionally, UNB has offered coursework in areas of introduction to nuclear and corrosion,” says Bradley McPherson, the CNER’s Director of Innovation. “With the advancement of SMRs and a shift globally toward decarbonization, new courses like Advanced Nuclear Systems, Nuclear Safety and Reliability, and Nuclear Chemical Processes are paramount to educating tomorrow’s workforce and decision- and policymakers.”

Exciting new research initiatives 

“We’ve recently begun to grow our nuclear expertise again with the hiring of Dr. Olga Palazhchenko, Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering and also a part of the CNER,” says Cook.

My latest and most ambitious project investigates the chemistry and materials considerations for long term storage of spent nuclear fuel in a potential deep geological repository.

Dr. Olga Palazhchenko 

Dr. Palazhchenko’s research in nuclear waste storage and computational modelling of nuclear systems has helped to expand the CNER’s capacity. “My work is in the areas of nuclear engineering and materials chemistry, with a focus on simulation development to model radioactivity transport in nuclear power plant systems,” she explains. “In more recent years, my work has expanded from large-scale, water-cooled reactors to R&D activities supporting advanced technologies such as SMRs. My latest and most ambitious project investigates the chemistry and materials considerations for long term storage of spent nuclear fuel in a potential deep geological repository.”

Expanding coursework

In growing its nuclear-related course content and attracting more students, UNB has created a virtuous cycle — students in the Nuclear Power Option Program often go on to post-graduate work at the CNER, which helps attract research and in turn helps attract highly qualified researchers and professors to the university, which then strengthens the Option Program when they teach. It’s a win-win-win.

The burgeoning nuclear industry requires qualified nuclear engineers to support it in its growth. To respond to this need, we’ve been developing a series of new courses that students can enroll in, currently recognized as a program option.

Dr. Joshua Leon

“While New Brunswick has plans to expand from a nuclear operator to a nuclear technology supplier, the province is currently developing two different types of SMR,” says Dr. Joshua Leon, Dean of Engineering at UNB. “The burgeoning nuclear industry requires qualified nuclear engineers to support it in its growth. To respond to this need, we’ve been developing a series of new courses that students can enroll in, currently recognized as a program option.” 


Learn more about UNB and its Nuclear Power Option Program, as well as other upcoming courses and R&D work, at unb.ca.

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Q&A with Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith on Nuclear Energy https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/industry-and-business/canada-nuclear-future/qa-with-ontario-energy-minister-todd-smith-on-nuclear-energy/ Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.innovatingcanada.ca/?p=50915 Mediaplanet chatted with Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith to get his insights on how nuclear energy is powering Ontario, what keeps Ontario’s nuclear sector so competitive, how public awareness and confidence are on the rise, and more.

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Todd Smith

Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario


Mediaplanet chatted with Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith to get his insights on how nuclear energy is powering Ontario, what keeps Ontario’s nuclear sector so competitive, how public awareness and confidence are on the rise, and more.

Why is nuclear energy so important in powering our economy and supporting new job opportunities in Ontario?

Ontario has one of the cleanest electricity systems in the world, with 90 per cent of our electricity generation creating zero emissions, and greenhouse gas levels that have declined by roughly 90 per cent since 2005 thanks to the backbone of our electricity grid, nuclear power.

Nuclear power is emission-free, reliable, and low-cost, and currently supplies about 60 per cent of the power used by Ontarians every day. Most of the 76,000 Canadian jobs created by the sector are in Ontario.

How is Ontario’s nuclear sector adapting to stay ahead in the global clean energy revolution and maintain its competitiveness?

The provincial government is taking full advantage of exciting new technologies in the field such as medical isotopes and small modular reactor (SMR) development and deployment. Ontario will be the first jurisdiction in the G7 to deploy a grid-scale SMR, which is expected to come online by 2028. Ontario will have a total of four SMRs up and running at the Darlington site by the 2030s.

Positioning Ontario as a global leader in nuclear technology also means creating new opportunities to become an exporter of expertise and components thanks to the experience of our skilled nuclear operators and supply chain businesses.

Leading the world on nuclear isn’t just good for our grid, it’s also good for our economy and environment.

What steps are being taken to promote public awareness and confidence in the safety and environmental responsibility of nuclear energy, increasing its acceptance as a crucial part of Ontario’s energy mix?

Our government has long been a vocal advocate for Ontario’s nuclear sector and the tens of thousands of skilled workers that the sector employs. We’re supporting one of Ontario’s expert nuclear operators, Ontario Power Generation, on their recently launched ad campaign focused at addressing any concerns or misconceptions Ontarians may have about nuclear power. By reminding or informing Ontarians that nuclear has been safely and effectively powering Ontario for 50 to 60 years already, and is the backbone of our grid, providing nearly 60 per cent of the power used by Ontarians every day, we’re ensuring Ontario can continue to lead the way and benefit our grid, economy, and environment using nuclear power.

As Ontario leads the way in clean energy, what collaborative efforts are being made with other provinces and federal agencies to leverage nuclear energy’s potential on a national scale?

Since December 2019, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan have been working together to advance SMRs in Canada through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and welcomed Alberta aboard in April 2021. Together, our provinces released A Strategic Plan for the Deployment of Small Modular Reactors, a path forward for the advancement of SMRs and the opportunity they bring as a source of safe and reliable, zero-emission energy to power our communities, while meeting the demands of a growing economy and population. SMRs can improve our quality of life, drive economic growth and prosperity, and help Canada and the world meet its climate goals.

The strategic plan also builds on the SMR Feasibility Study released by the provincial power utilities in April 2021 by identifying key actions that provinces can take to enable a decision on whether to proceed with SMRs. Following a decision to proceed, it outlines further actions to support the deployment of SMRs.

The MOU provinces have been working collaboratively to advance SMR development and deployment since December 2019. The strategic plan is just one step in our journey toward making SMRs a reality in Canada. Ontario, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Alberta will continue to work together, and with other partners and stakeholders, to advance SMR development and deployment in Canada.


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