October 5, 2021. Seventy groups and organizations have called on the Prime Minister to include a moratorium on federal funding for nuclear expansion in the mandate letters to cabinet. Prime Minister Trudeau is expected to announce his new cabinet next week.

In their letter, sent October 4 (attached), the groups cite the latest expert analysis conducted by independent researchers in the 2021 World Nuclear Industry Status Report. The report found that the industry’s proposed small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), like large reactors, will continue to be subject to delays and cost overruns, not ready for deployment in the next decade, if ever, and highly unlikely to be economical. Clearly, SMRs have no role to play in fighting the climate crisis.

The letter points out that the new government does not have a mandate from Canadians for new nuclear expansion and the public voice cannot be ignored.

The letter also demands that the government makes public the expected cost of their plan to develop new nuclear reactor prototypes including the cost of long-term management of their radioactive wastes.

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Note: Action Climat Outaouais is among the groups that signed the letter and press release. A French version is also available.