Business View Magazine | September 2022

26 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 9 realizing a net zero future.” CNA is addressing this looming challenge through initiatives that popularize electricity and energy jobs to the younger generation. According to Gorman, “Last October, we officially launched Electricity Alliance Canada in cooperation with industry associations for electricity, renewables, waterpower, marine power, plus the Electricity Human Resource Council. This alliance will raise awareness with various stakeholders on the need to electrify our economy and the human resources required to achieve such an ambitious future.” The future of nuclear power in Canada and its role in realizing a net zero future rests in the successful deployment of SMRs in the coming years. “Fortunately,” says Gorman, “SMRs are not some distant technology. The technology is off the drawing board and currently before regulators for licensing and approvals. For example, Ontario Power Generation has already selected General Electric Hitachi to deploy and connect the first SMR to the grid by 2028, adding 300Mw to the Ontario grid. Other smaller reactors could also be up and running before then.” As Canada heads towards a Net Zero 2050, the country will need to bring all its resources to bear to deliver this ambitious future. “The challenge ahead of us is enormous,” says Gorman. “We will not just need a substantial number of SMRs, but large reactors too. To meet this challenge, we will also need every clean energy technology at our disposal, including wind, water, solar, marine, and other renewables. Over the next few years, the public, stakeholders, civil society, and policymakers will need to come to terms with the fact that we need to build massive clean energy infrastructure quickly and that we must use all technologies at our disposal.”