More wishful thinking about nuclear energy on path to net zero

Let's get real: nuclear energy is by far the most expensive way to generate electricity, and SMRs will not get us to net zero by 2050. The perils of wishful thinking include fuelling false hope, leading to bad decisions about energy choices across Canada.

As we document in a new report published by St. Thomas University, the $4.5-billion in public funds spent to date on SMR activities in Canada have produced underwhelming results. Continued government funding for SMRs is a waste of public resources, write Susan O'Donnell and M.V. Ramana. Image courtesy of Pixabay

Opinion

BY SUSAN O’DONNELL, M.V. RAMANA

April 16, 2026

On March 16, the federal energy regulator released Canada's Energy Future 2026, its second report that explicitly modelled a scenario to achieve net-zero emissions.

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