Nuclear Power in Canada: 15 Facts & Statistics

Nuclear Power in Canada: 15 Facts & Statistics

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Facts on Canadian nuclear industry cover

Did you know that nuclear power accounts for more than half of Ontario’s electricity supply? Not many people are very familiar with the Canadian nuclear energy industry, which accounted for about 3 per cent of global nuclear power production in 2022 (sixth globally) in a country that has roughly half a per cent of the world’s population.

Canadians have long been leaders in nuclear power, with the first commercial nuclear electricity generated in Ontario in the early 1960s. And to create such electricity, you need enriched uranium; it just so happens that our great nation is also home to some of the world’s highest-grade uranium reserves in Saskatchewan – it couldn’t have been a better fit for Canadians!

Below, we explore several interesting facts on the Canadian nuclear industry that should bring you up to speed on one of the most important sources of electricity in our country. Also see:

Canadian Nuclear Power Facts

Bruce Nuclear Generation Station - Nuclear Power in Canada Facts

#1 – Canada is home to 19 operating reactors in five different plants across three provinces [1][2]

#2 – Nuclear energy accounts for 13% of Canada’s total electricity demand and is the second-largest contributor of non-emitting electricity in the country (2022) [2]

#3 – Nuclear energy accounts for 52.5% of Ontario’s electricity supply, and 28.1% of New Brunswick’s [2]

#4 – Canada is the world’s sixth-largest nuclear power generator, accounting for 3% of global generation (2022) [2]

#5 – Canada’s nuclear industry boasts a workforce of 89,000 individuals, marking a significant 17% increase since 2019 [3]

nuclear power adds 22 billion to the Canadian economy every year

#6 – Canada’s nuclear sector employment growth translates to a substantial $22 billion annual contribution to Canada’s economy (GDP), highlighting the industry’s critical economic role especially in Ontario [3]

#7 – Nearly 90% of Canadian nuclear jobs are classified as high-skill positions, requiring university degrees and specialized technical trades [3]

#8 – Canada is the first in North America to begin construction on small modular reactors (SMRs) at the Darlington New Nuclear Project site, at a total cost of $20.9 billion [5]

#9 – Future development of new nuclear reactors in Canada represents a significant economic opportunity; the deployment of four CANDU® MONARK reactors would include [4]:

  • $90.4 billion boost to Canadian GDP over 88-year project life, including $40.9 billion during construction, and $49.5 billion during operations
  • 33,500 full-time equivalent jobs per year over nine years during the construction of the four reactors, as well as 3,500 full-time equivalent jobs pear year over its 70-plus year operating life
  • $29.1 billion in additional tax revenue across municipal, provincial, and federal governments over the project’s lifetime

#10 – A 2024 study by Westinghouse Electric Company shows the economic benefits of deploying four new AP1000® nuclear reactors in Ontario, including:

  • 4,800 MW of power generation
  • $28.7 billion in economic activity
  • 125,000 person-years of employment
  • $15.7 billion in labour income
  • $7.1 billion in tax revenues
  • $8.1 billion in additional economic activity
  • 12,000 jobs per year

Canada's nuclear sector employs nearly 90,000 people nationwide, mostly in Ontario and New Brunswick

#11 – Canada’s nuclear sector is supported by a robust supply chain of more than 200 companies, including 200 SMEs, and an R&D network of laboratories and universities [7]

#12 – In Ontario, $26 billion of investment is currently planned and ongoing to extend the life of Ontario’s

#13 – Canada is responsible for developing a unique nuclear reactor technology called CANDU, short for CANada Deuterium Uranium, used by half a dozen countries including Romania, China, India, South Korea, and Argentina worldwide [2]

#14 – A total of 19 CANDU reactors are in operation in Canada, with an additional 9 operating in 5 other countries globally; these reactors represent about 7% of global reactors and 5% of global nuclear electricity capacity (2022) [2]

#15 – Approximately 20% of domestic uranium production is used in Canada’s CANDU reactors in Ontario and New Brunswick, including the Bruce Generating Station, amongst the world’s largest operating nuclear facilities [2]

Canadian Nuclear Energy is Safe and Reliable

I love Canadian nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is undoubtedly a critically important part of our country’s energy mix.

Canadians across the country should be proud of our accomplishments in nuclear technology and research. We should also be enthusiastic about our incredible safety record with zero fatalities from radiation exposure at power plants or waste facilities in over 50 years of using the technology for electricity generation.

Nuclear power stations operate day in and day out, seven days a week. providing safe and reliable electricity to Canadian families and businesses year-round. The potential development of SMRs in provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec will likely bring about tangible economic benefits for local communities while powering our industries for years to come.

The world’s latest string of energy crises has shown the need for reliable baseload power, like that provided by nuclear energy. Canada has an incredible opportunity to export its nuclear expertise to our closest allies and trade partners as they seek long-term and reliable power sources for decades to come.

We support technology like nuclear power in Canada for all the aforementioned reasons, and so should you!

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Canada is home to 19 operating nuclear reactors, including an additional three reactors shut down over the past several years

SOURCES:

1 - https://www.cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca/eng/reactors/power-plants/

2 - https://energy-information.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2024-10/energy-factbook-2024-2025.pdf

3 - https://cna.ca/2024/09/24/canadian-nuclear-industry-a-powerhouse-of-job-creation-and-economic-growth/

4 - https://www.conferenceboard.ca/insights/economic-impacts-of-the-candu-monark-nuclear-reactor/

5 - https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/what-is-the-budget-for-canadas-first-smr-project

6 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/nuclear-energy-uranium/canadian-nuclear-energy-technology

7 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/nrcan/files/energy/pdf/uranium-nuclear/20-02262-Canada-Nuclear-Fuel-Cycle-Infographic-EN.pdf