OTTAWA / Content Syndication Services / – Canada has set a federal plan to enable construction of up to 10 new large scale nuclear reactors. The plan forms part of the country’s new nuclear energy strategy. It places nuclear power at the center of Canada’s electricity, uranium and clean energy agenda.
The strategy sets clear timelines for new nuclear power. It calls for two new reactors under construction by 2035. It also targets five more reactors planned or under development by 2040. Canada also aims to have at least one nuclear deployment outside Ontario operating or under construction by 2035.
The plan does not add immediate federal funding for the reactors. The government said it will release a policy by April 2027. That policy will set the terms for federal support and financing tools. Natural Resources Canada framed the strategy around new builds, exports, uranium production, nuclear fuel and innovation.
Expansion targets
Nuclear power now supplies about 13% of Canada’s electricity. The country operates 17 CANDU reactors in Ontario and New Brunswick. Canada also ranks as the world’s second largest uranium producer. It produced about 24% of global uranium output in 2024, with active uranium mining and milling concentrated in Saskatchewan.
Current projects show how the plan fits into Canada’s nuclear pipeline. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted Ontario Power Generation a construction licence in April 2025 for one BWRX 300 reactor at Darlington in Clarington, Ontario. Bruce Power has also proposed the Bruce C project in Kincardine, Ontario, with capacity of up to 4,800 megawatts.
Regulatory pathway
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates nuclear facilities and reviews licence applications. Future large reactor projects must still move through federal and provincial review steps. The federal strategy also covers small modular reactors, microreactors and nuclear fuel development. Canada aims to demonstrate a Canadian microreactor by 2035 under the same policy framework.
The strategy adds to earlier federal nuclear commitments. Ottawa announced a $40 million microreactor feasibility program for 2026 and 2027. It also committed $2.2 billion over 10 years for capital investments at Chalk River Laboratories. The new plan gives Canada a numbered target for large reactor construction after decades of reliance on existing nuclear sites.