Former Liberal premier Jean Chrétien, 90, is on a crusade with Quebec engineering firm AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin) to extol the virtues of nuclear power by becoming co-president of a major national campaign.
• Also read: No CO2 neutrality in 2050 without nuclear power, argues Pierre Fitzgibbon
“The contribution of the CANDU nuclear reactors [CANada Deutérium Uranium] Canada's position as a global leader is immeasurable. I am in a position to know this because, as prime minister, I was directly involved in their sale to other countries,” argued former Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien in a press release.
“I look forward to supporting the continued development of the innovation that started it all: CANDU reactors,” said Mike Harris, former Ontario premier.
Despite launching the operation aimed at “ensuring Canada’s clean energy future through the deployment of CANDU technology,” neither AtkinsRéalis nor Jean Chrétien accepted our interview request on Wednesday.
The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) also had no one available to grant an interview at its annual conference.
Sabia was irritated
Last November, Hydro-Québec CEO Michael Sabia appeared irritated during the launch of his action plan when Le Journal asked him questions about nuclear energy that appeared in his own document.
Hydro-Québec's 2035 Action Plan includes a passage to restart Gentilly-2. Provided by Hydro-Québec
“Nuclear energy is not part of this plan, period,” responded the CEO of Hydro-Québec.
“Nuclear power is not included in the figures that we have clearly presented on increasing production,” he emphasized. Hydro's number 1 emphasized: “Social acceptance is extremely important and we will respect that.”
No further meetings
When questioned by Le Journal on Wednesday, the company Hydro-Québec said it had held “no meetings other than the one on the summary study on Gentilly-2, which has already been discussed in the news and in the parliamentary committee.”
“Our 2035 Action Plan does not provide for the addition of megawatts (MW) from nuclear energy. There is currently no further study underway or planned,” confirmed spokesman Maxence Huard-Lefebvre.
In late January, Radio-Canada announced that a four-page study conducted for Hydro-Québec confirmed that power production at Gentilly-2 could indeed resume, while the state-owned company had hired AtkinsRéalis to assess the condition of the facilities.
Gentilly‐2 has an installed capacity of 675 megawatts. It entered service in 1983 and was discontinued in 2012.
Nuclear power plant control room. Provided by Hydro-Québec
Secret documents
In recent weeks, Le Journal requested documents from Hydro on the resumption of nuclear power, but apart from texts already published, the state-owned company refused to provide them.
“These documents contain, in particular, analyses, opinions or recommendations, as well as information of a commercial, scientific, technical and strategic nature or a trade secret,” explained its Secretary General Pierre Bouchard.
Bales of low-level radioactive waste: rags, gloves, slightly contaminated clothing and mops. Provided by Hydro-Québec
At the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) they confirm having had two meetings with representatives of AtkinsRéalis, but say that they “never publicly discuss the discussions they are having or could have with project promoters”.
“Social acceptance is non-existent”
For his part, Energy Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon published photos from his visit to Ontario Power Generation (OPG) last Monday.
“Great visit @opg. At the global level, nuclear energy is crucial to achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. There is no social acceptance in Quebec. We can count on other sources of energy. But we must continue to inform ourselves, discuss and debate,” he commented on social networks.
Great visit @opg. At the global level, nuclear energy is crucial to achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. In Quebec there is no social acceptance, we can count on other sources of energy. But we must continue to inform ourselves, discuss and debate. pic.twitter.com/GH3fx2Ccvy
— Pierre Fitzgibbon (@MinFitzgibbon) February 26, 2024
-In collaboration with Sylvain Larocque
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