A worker walks past a cooling tower releasing steam at the Civaux nuclear power plant in Civaux, south-western France on June 24, 2026. (Credit: Philippe LOPEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
The federal government is going all in on nuclear energy — a power source it says is “essential” to Canada’s future — but major questions remain.
Ottawa’s nuclear strategy, released this week, calls for new reactors and rising volumes of exports to position the country as a global supplier of tech and uranium.
The plan comes at a time when worldwide demand for electricity is rising quickly. Countries are looking for reliable, lower-emission power, and Canada wants a bigger piece of the action.
The country already has a long nuclear history, with major uranium resources in Saskatchewan, reactor expertise, fuel services and a domestic supply chain that includes companies such as Saskatoon-based mining giant Cameco Corp.
But the chase to dominate comes with pressure.
Nuclear energy has long been associated with disaster. The Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, caused by a tsunami, was a source of genuine fear that paralyzed the industry.
Find out how the government under Prime Minister Mark Carney is attempting to move faster in a global race for market control, while proving it can move carefully and safely.