Supporting Canada’s clean energy future

Nuclear’s carbon footprint is miniscule compared to fossil fuels. In fact, if all the world’s coal and natural gas plants were replaced with low-carbon nuclear, global CO₂ emissions would be reduced by nearly 13 billion tons annually.

Yes! There are 21 operable nuclear power reactors at four nuclear generating stations in Canada which, in 2022, provided approximately 15% of Canada’s electricity.

The nuclear industry supports approximately 60,000 Canadian jobs, and nearly 200 Canadian companies supply products and/or services to the industry.

Deploying the first GEH BWRX-300 SMR in Ontario is estimated to generate approximately:

• $2.3 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• $1.9 billion in labor income
• More than $750 million in federal, provincial, and municipal tax revenue over its lifespan

All this is in addition to the fact that early leadership position in SMR technology could secure a significant share of the projected $400 to $600 billion global market for the country.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is Canada’s nuclear regulator. It is an independent agency with quasi-judicial powers that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Natural Resources.

The CNSC is responsible for regulating the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety, and security of Canadians and the environment. It provides licensing to facilities and can impose legal penalties for violations.

Many uses for nuclear technology exist beyond power generation, including:

• Using radiation to kill bacteria, insects, and parasites that can cause food-borne diseases. 
• Production of new crop varieties.  
• Industrial inspection; examining the molecular and macroscopic structure of materials. 
• Nuclear gauges that use a radioactive source to detect item characteristics (that is, thickness, density, or chemical makeup). 
• Desalination to produce clean drinking water. 
• Fuel for various modes of travel. 
• Numerous consumer products—from smoke detectors and cosmetics to frying pans and photocopiers. There is also research into producing steam supplies for industrial applications and district heating systems.