QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
Nuclear Energy Development
March 3, 2022
Minister, most of the emphasis in your mandate letter is on what you will get rid of to combat climate change. Yet, there is precious little on what you will replace it with.
One of the best ways to get the electricity grid to net zero by 2035 is through nuclear power, an abundant and carbon-free energy source. Yet, in your climate plan I see no indication of what your government is investing in this energy source. While your plan clearly identifies close to $1 billion and more for wind and solar, all that nuclear gets is a mention of an action plan for small modular reactors.
Minister, why is nuclear power — a stable and safe source of carbon-free energy — such a low priority for the Trudeau government?
Thank you for your question. I would like to correct something you said. The federal government does not subsidize the production of wind energy or solar energy. Currently, we do subsidize the production of fossil fuels in this country, but we don’t directly subsidize the production of renewable energies.
The government is encouraging research in and development of nuclear technology. We have to look at all non-emitting technologies in order to fight climate change. If nuclear energy can perform, on a cost basis, with other forms of non-emitting technologies, then there will be a place for it. The federal government does not develop energy projects. Energy projects are developed by provinces and territories, not by the federal government.
