News
Power Workers’ Union supports federal budget’s direction towards clean economy

TORONTO — The Power Workers’ Union (PWU), says they congratulate the Government of Canada on its 2023 budget “provisions that will afford significant practical and critical help on our path to building the new clean energy infrastructure essential to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions” says PWU President, Jeff Parnell.

“Establishing Investment Tax Credits for Clean Electricity and Clean Technologies that acknowledge the gravity of successfully addressing electrification of our economy and recognize the critical contribution that investments in large-scale nuclear generation can deliver are to be commended.”

Success in getting to Net Zero will require some difference in approaches from province to province depending on the clean energy advantages best suited to each jurisdiction. It will also require strong collaboration between provinces to best achieve results.

The Power Workers’ Union says Ontario needs large-scale nuclear generation to meet its goals. Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has identified the need for 17,800 megawatts of new nuclear generation along with significant contributions from renewables, energy storage, and hydrogen in its Pathways to Decarbonization Study.

Canada’s nuclear sector has reportedly grown the environmental, social, and economic benefits of a CANDU-based supply chain – more than $6B in annual revenues; 240+ domestic supply chain companies; 76,000 direct and indirect Canadian jobs, including Saskatchewan sourced uranium. Unlike other low-carbon energy resources, the sector has established a regulated, monitored, and funded waste management program. Programs for the current fleet and a new 300 MW small modular reactor project is underway on the site of the existing Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. Additionally, the Utilities in Ontario and New Brunswick have successfully managed life-extension refurbishment sector has helped make the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories at Chalk River an international nuclear R&D hub.