As the global race to energy security and reducing emissions heats up, nuclear fission is having a major comeback, driven by rapid progress in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Canada is getting ahead of the game and so should. With China moving fast on their nuclear programs, Canada needs to move quickly and smartly.
Internationally, nuclear energy is moving from relic to cornerstone of sustainable energy. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has documented over 80 SMR designs globally, with significant progress in China and Russia where several are operational and many more near completion.
China is aggressively pursuing a nuclear expansion strategy, with their Linglong One SMR scheduled to be completed by 2026, showcasing Beijing’s export ambitions and energy independence goals. The US is investing in advanced reactor technologies in response to geopolitical pressures and the need for non-emitting energy. Europe has categorised nuclear as climate-aligned and included it in its sustainable finance taxonomy.
2025 has been a big year for nuclear innovation in Canada. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has started construction on North America’s first commercial SMR—the Darlington New Nuclear Project—using GE-Hitachi’s BWRX-300 design, a first for Canada and the continent. Ontario plans to build three more reactors, solidifying nuclear as a key part of provincial energy policy.
The western provinces are also moving on nuclear. Saskatchewan is near final site selection near Estevan and SaskPower is clearly moving towards including SMRs in its energy strategy. Alberta is aligning its regulatory and policy frameworks to enable nuclear technology development.
Federal support has accelerated this progress with significant investments including $74 million for Saskatchewan’s SMR projects and $55 million for Ontario’s Darlington site, demonstrating federal commitment to nuclear as a core clean energy solution.
Indigenous participation in nuclear projects is also growing, with communities exploring equity participation, economic opportunities and jobs in Saskatchewan and Ontario. For example, the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council has invested in SMR developers, showing the economic and sovereignty potential of nuclear partnerships.Canada’s vast uranium resources, including the globally significant McArthur River and Cigar Lake mines in Saskatchewan, are a strategic asset in this new nuclear economy, ensuring national sovereignty and supply chain integrity.
Economically, SMRs offer many benefits including regional grid stability, diesel replacement for remote operations, hydrogen production capabilities, 18,000 jobs in Ontario alone and new revenue streams for Indigenous communities. Canada’s SMR Roadmap estimates the domestic market at $5.3 billion by 2040 and international export opportunities of up to $150 billion.
Strategically, Canada must streamline SMR permitting without sacrificing safety, manufacture at home, educate the public on nuclear benefits and expand uranium processing to protect national interests.
The nuclear renaissance presents Canada with a window of opportunity. By combining SMRs with renewables, hydrogen initiatives and critical minerals industries, Canada can have real energy sovereignty. Now is the time to secure Canada’s place in the next century’s energy landscape.
This nuclear resurgence reflects broader geopolitical shifts where energy security is no longer a given. Countries are valuing sovereign supply chains and non-intermittent, dispatchable energy sources. Canada with its nuclear heritage and regulatory credibility has a unique chance to lead this energy transformation.
The time to act is now. Global competition from China, the US and Europe is moving fast. Canada’s advantages—uranium resources, regulatory excellence, established nuclear supply chains and inclusive Indigenous partnerships—must be seized to cement its leadership.
It will require a coordinated effort from government, industry and communities to realize the full potential of nuclear innovation. The economic, environmental and social stakes are huge, offering Canada a tool not only for decarbonization but for economic resilience, national security and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.
By going all in on nuclear, Canada can shape its future, harnessing the power of SMRs to build a resilient, secure and sustainable energy landscape for generations to come.
