Canada unveils national nuclear buildout plan

The federal government has released a national Nuclear Energy Strategy that maps out a major expansion of large-scale nuclear power over the next 15 years. The plan, unveiled on June 22, 2026, is intended to enable construction of up to 10 new large reactors across the country. It sets out deployment milestones designed to move projects from concept to concrete timelines. The strategy forms a central part of Ottawa’s approach to using nuclear power in future electricity supply and industrial activity.

A cornerstone of the strategy is a clear schedule for advancing new builds. By 2035, two new large-scale reactors are expected to be under construction in Canada. By 2040, five additional reactors should be planned or under development, creating a pipeline that could ultimately reach the 10‑reactor ambition. These targets are framed as enabling conditions rather than guarantees, but they mark a significant shift toward large-scale nuclear buildout.

The strategy calls for nuclear development to extend beyond its traditional strongholds. It specifies that at least one new large-scale reactor should be under construction outside Ontario by 2035. This objective signals a push to broaden the regional footprint of nuclear generation within Canada. It also implies a need for new provincial partnerships, regulatory work, and grid planning in areas that have not previously hosted large nuclear stations.

By anchoring timelines to explicit dates, the plan provides a framework for provinces and utilities to begin aligning investment and infrastructure decisions. The emphasis on at least one project outside Ontario is presented as a key test of whether nuclear can play a national rather than primarily regional role in Canada’s power mix.

Beyond domestic generation, the Nuclear Energy Strategy sets ambitious targets to expand Canada’s role in global nuclear markets. It aims to open at least four new international markets for CANDU technology by 2040. Over a 15‑year horizon, the plan seeks engagement with six to ten countries that are new entrants to nuclear power. These goals reflect a focus on leveraging existing Canadian reactor technology and supply chains in growing markets.

The strategy also highlights upstream resource and export opportunities. It includes a target to double uranium exports by 2035, positioning Canada to supply more fuel into an expanding global reactor fleet. Together, the reactor export and uranium goals are intended to reinforce Canada’s standing as a comprehensive nuclear supplier, covering both technology and fuel.

Achieving the planned buildout and export growth will require a much larger nuclear labour pool. The strategy foresees the nuclear-sector workforce rising from roughly 90,000 today to about 180,000‑plus over the coming decades. This anticipated expansion spans engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, and related services. It underscores the scale of industrial activity implied by the reactor and export targets.

Officials have indicated that construction of the proposed new large reactors could cost more than CAD 100 billion. This figure reflects the combined capital needs of multiple projects over many years. The high investment level is closely tied to the workforce and export objectives, as large build programs can support extensive supply chains and long-term employment. The strategy also references work to de‑risk projects and streamline federal reviews, alongside plans to develop a dedicated financing policy to be released in 2027.