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There’s a lot of talk right now about nuclear energy — about its potential to power AI data centres, lower emissions, and drive electrification by providing clean, reliable power. But nuclear energy isn’t new at all — and in Canada, we’re drawing on decades of expertise.. |
Minister talking on screen |
| CANDUs: Canadian innovation | |
| In 1945, Canada’s first nuclear reactor was built near Ottawa, setting the stage for the CANDU reactor: a uniquely Canadian design fueled by natural, unenriched uranium. | We see 1945 on screen. We then zoom in on a map of Canada to show the location of the first nuclear power plant. |
| This paved the way for our first commercial nuclear power plant in Pickering, Ontario in 1971. | Historical photos of the power plant’s construction appear |
| Today, Canada’s nuclear sector employs over 89,000 people, it contributes approximately 13 percent of our national electricity supply, and adds almost $22 billion to the economy every year. | Two circles appear containing multiple icons representing people and multiple icons representing electricity. The numbers 89,000 and 13% appear over the icons. The two circles then transform into the words $22 Billion. |
| These reactors strengthen our energy security and prevent more than 30 million tonnes of pollution annually around the world. | Minister talking on screen |
| And in Ontario, nuclear energy allowed the province to phase out the use of coal and reduce smog days in the province from over 50 in 2005 to zero by 2015. | We see a house with a city and coal plant behind it. The coal plant is releasing dark smog, which is making the sky dark. The coal plant disappears and a nuclear power plant appears in it’s place. The sky becomes clear and the number 50 appears and counts down to 0. |
| Title card: What are SMRs? | |
| Small modular reactors — or SMRs — are nuclear reactors built at a smaller scale and designed for a factory or on-site production. | Minister talking on screen |
| This could lead to faster deployment, especially in remote locations where clean energy solutions can be hard to deploy. | A graphic representation of an SMR appears with trees surrounding it. |
| Once the first grid-scale SMR at the Darlington Nuclear Station in Ontario is completed, Canada will be the first country in the G7 to operate an SMR. | We see drone footage of the construction progress of the Darlington SMR site. An illustration of the completed SMR appears. |
| Title Card: Nuclear Fission — How Nuclear energy works | |
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Inside nuclear reactors and SMRs, the process that creates energy is called nuclear fission. When a uranium atom splits, it releases heat and tiny particles called neutrons. Those neutrons bump into other uranium atoms, causing them to split. In a nuclear power plant, the result is a controlled release of energy in the form of heat. |
We see a microscopic view of a uranium atom splitting. Neutrons hit other particles and a chain reaction begins. The screen becomes red to show heat being created. |
| This heat is then used to boil water, make steam, and spin electric turbines — | Icons representing water, steam, and a turbine animates on screen. |
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exactly the same way we generate electricity in a coal plant or a hydro dam. But unlike coal or gas, nuclear fission releases no carbon dioxide, making it one of the most powerful forms of clean energy we have in our toolbox. |
Minister talking on screen |
| Title card: Is Nuclear Energy Safe? | |
| Canadian nuclear plants are overseen by an independent regulator, with inspectors on site to ensure that both people and the environment are protected. | Minister talking on screen |
| Equally important is how nuclear waste is handled. The nuclear fuel waste produced to support one person’s energy needs over their entire lifetime is small — in fact, it can fit inside a pop can. | We see a small amount of nuclear waste with an equals symbol and an icon of a person. The nuclear waste then gets surrounded by a pop can. |
| In Canada, the waste is stored safely at nuclear sites in thick, reinforced containers built to last for decades. Meanwhile, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is developing a long-term deep geological repository to safely contain used fuel for generations to come. | The camera zooms out to see that the pop can was inside a thick container. Two more containers appear on screen. The screen wipes to see a large, underground, offsite area that is ready to be filled with waste. |
| Title card: Canada’s Nuclear Future | |
| Energy isn’t just about powering our grids. It’s also about powering our economy, our communities, and our future. | Minister talking on screen |
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