Canada’s nuclear sector was built for decades around Candu reactors and a largely homegrown supply chain. That model helped the country avoid relying on outside providers for key fuel needs, making nuclear power part of a broader strategy of industrial and energy self-sufficiency.
Now, the first reactors in Canada’s next wave of nuclear development are set to follow a different path. Ontario is moving ahead with small modular reactors, and other provinces are weighing similar projects, but these designs will require fuel services from foreign companies, including suppliers in the United States, for uranium enrichment and fuel fabrication.
The shift marks a major break from the system that supported Canada’s traditional reactor fleet. Instead of depending mainly on domestic capabilities tied to Candu technology, the new SMR plans would connect Canada’s nuclear future to international processing and manufacturing networks. That creates a new layer of exposure to foreign industrial capacity and cross-border supply conditions.
The timing is notable because it comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney has been making the case for stronger Canadian economic resilience. While nuclear expansion is still being promoted as part of the country’s long-term energy strategy, the fuel requirements of these newer reactors suggest that Canada may need to balance its push for more nuclear power with a greater dependence on overseas partners.
