Natural Resources

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources met to study Canada’s nuclear energy sector, hearing from George Christidis of the Canadian Nuclear Association, Dale Austin of Cameco Corporation, and Sam Boutziouvis of AtkinsRéalis.

George Christidis said Canada will need up to 150 gigawatts of additional electricity generation capacity by 2050, with nuclear playing a key role, and that the nuclear sector supports 89,000 jobs and contributes $22 billion annually to GDP. He asked the government to extend the clean electricity investment tax credit to large nuclear facilities and the broader supply chain, to exempt nuclear projects from the Impact Assessment Act and make the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission the sole federal regulator, and to work with provinces on workforce training to address expected labour shortages starting around 2030. He noted that life-adjusted capital costs for nuclear could be less than half those of firmed-up renewables, and that investment tax credits for nuclear could pay back 95 cents on the dollar within 20 years.

Dale Austin emphasized that Cameco’s AP1000 reactor is the only technology capable of delivering large-scale, reliable, low-carbon power within this decade, and that Canada should diversify its nuclear capabilities to include light water reactors to capitalize on global export opportunities. He highlighted that Canada is the second-largest uranium producer and that Cameco’s uranium reserves and fuel supply chain are strategic assets for allied nations seeking to break free from Russian nuclear fuel dependence. He recommended that Canada consider deliberate uranium resource development for geopolitical advantage, and noted that uranium enrichment in Canada would require a business case based on significant domestic light water reactor deployment, plus federal policy and treaty changes.

Sam Boutziouvis argued that Canada should pursue a made-in-Canada nuclear strategy anchored in CANDU technology, which keeps engineering, manufacturing and jobs in Canada, whereas adopting foreign reactor designs would send value abroad. He said that shifting to another technology would disrupt the workforce and supply chain built through CANDU refurbishments, and that a strong domestic large-reactor program strengthens Canada’s credibility as a nuclear exporter. He supported Christidis’s call for the CNSC to be the sole life-cycle regulator for nuclear, and agreed that a team Canada approach with government support is essential for international sales.

During questions, Boutziouvis expanded on CANDU’s 50-year relationships with countries like South Korea and Romania, and said a strong domestic program supports exports. Austin explained that Cameco is working with Saskatchewan to decarbonize its mine sites and is exploring microreactors for northern communities. Christidis noted that fusion is further out and that immediate decisions on regulation and investment are critical. In response to a member’s concern about relaxing impact assessments, Christidis clarified he seeks to avoid duplication, not reduce safety. He later said that nuclear is competitive in Ontario and that refurbishments were delivered on time and on budget. Austin highlighted workforce and northern infrastructure as key challenges, and noted that Cameco is the largest industrial employer of indigenous people in Canada. The committee also briefly discussed scheduling for a forestry task force report and ongoing efforts to secure testimony from Enbridge.