Canada - World Nuclear Outlook Report

Current operations

Two Canadian provinces currently use nuclear power, with 16 Candu reactors operating over three sites in Ontario (Bruce, Darlington and Pickering), and one reactor (also a Candu) in Point Lepreau in New Brunswick. Extensive refurbishment programmes are being carried out to extend the operation of reactors at all four sites.

Refurbishment of units 3-8 at the Bruce plant began in 2020 and is expected to extend the operation of each unit by 30-35 years. Units 6&3 have returned to service, with the remaining refurbishments scheduled to be completed by 2033. Units 1&2 at the site had previously been refurbished and returned to operation in 2012.

At Darlington refurbishment of the four units was carried out between 2016 and 2026. The work should extend operation by up to 30 years.

Pickering 1&4 were permanently shut down in 2024. Refurbishment of the four operable units at Pickering (units 5-8) is planned to begin in 2027 and is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s.

Point Lepreau underwent refurbishment in 2008-2012. The unit is expected to continue to run for several decades, with a possible second refurbishment in the early 2040s.

Table Ca.1 Nuclear capacity status (as of 1 October 2026)

Nuclear policy and outlook

National government support for nuclear power in Canada is strong. In January 2024 Canada became the first country to include nuclear power finance in green bonds.

In June 2026, the government released its national nuclear strategy. Key objectives under the new-build plans include enabling the construction of up to ten new large-scale reactors, with two under construction by 2035 and five more planned or under development by 2040; at least one nuclear deployment operational or under construction outside Ontario by 2035; and a Canadian microreactor to be demonstrated by 2035 and deployed to remote communities in the late 2030s.

The government will aim to centralize federal support for new nuclear build and the regulatory framework for nuclear projects will be streamlined, with a target of completing federal regulatory review within two years. The plan also includes the objective of securing fuel supply chains for all reactors in Canada, including enriched fuel. The report also aimed to enable the development of SMRs, in partnership with interested jurisdictions.

Ontario

In February 2024 the Ontario government committed to providing CAD50 million ($35 million) of funding to support pre-development work to study the feasibility of building up to 4800 MWe of new generating capacity at the Bruce site. In May 2026 Ontario's government announced a cost-sharing and recovery agreement enabling Bruce Power to move ahead with an estimated CAD300 million (USD210 million) of pre-development work for the Bruce C new nuclear project. According to a study by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Bruce C project would contribute CAD238 billion (USD167 billion) over its lifetime to Canada's economy.

In June 2025, the Ontario government released its Energy for Generations energy roadmap, which noted that, according to the Independent Electricity System Operator, the province could need up to 17.8 GWe of new nuclear generation by 2050 to meet rising demand in a high electrification scenario. Achieving the capacity target in this scenario would require building eight large nuclear units at the Wesleyville site in Port Hope (in addition to the four units at Bruce C) alongside Bruce 1&2 being refurbished a second time.

With regard to small modular reactors, in December 2021, OPG announced the selection of GE Hitachi’s BWRX-300 for the Darlington SMR project. Construction of the first unit commenced in June 2026, with completion of the unit scheduled for 2030. A total of four BWRX-300 reactors are planned at the Darlington site.

New Brunswick

In its energy roadmap published at the end of 2023, New Brunswick’s government committed to having 600 MWe of new nuclear generation as part of plans to achieve net-zero emissions in its electricity sector by 2035.

NB Power is currently working with ARC Clean Technology Canada to build an ARC-100 sodium-cooled fast reactor at the Point Lepreau site, with operation targeted by 2029.

Alberta

Alberta has committed to developing a nuclear generation strategy by January 2027. The main focus is on small modular reactors, which could power remote, energy-intensive sites including oil sands operations.

A partnership between OPG and Capital Power, is exploring the regulatory and permitting processes needed to deploy an SMR in Alberta around 2035.

Electricity demand from data centres has also raised interest in the Peace River Nuclear Power Project in Alberta that would consist of four Candu Monark reactors capable of supplying up to 4800 MWe.

Saskatchewan

Table Ca.2 Contributions to total capacity projection in 2050 (gross)

Assessment

Canada is a mature nuclear country with a strong long-term operation programme and a substantial prospective new-build pipeline. Recent reactor refurbishment projects have been delivered with good budget control and ahead of schedule. Construction has started on the first Darlington SMR. Its prospective large reactor and wider provincial pipeline is substantial but remains at an early stage.

The national nuclear strategy identifies new potential nuclear capacity, categorized in the previous World Nuclear Outlook Report as part of the provincial governments’ targets.