Dear Editor,

After reading the Nov. 4 article about Global First Power’s project to build micro modular reactors, I have many concerns. The federal government is funding private companies to develop these small modular reactors. These SMRs would generate between . . .

two to 300 megawatts of power versus the several thousand megawatt capacity of each of the Ontario reactors. The purpose of these SMRs would be to provide electricity to remote communities as well as for oil and gas extraction, mining and other heavy industries far from the electricity grid. The government plans to exempt SMRs from federal environmental assessment legislation. Not a good plan. 

There is a climate change emergency in the world now and the development of these reactors will take at least 10 years to develop. They will cost millions of dollars to build using our tax payer’s money that would be better spent developing alternative energy sources. 

The location of the construction of these SMRs is most disturbing. Why are they building more nuclear reactors at Chalk River close to the Ottawa River? We already know that uranium is extremely toxic. They may be able to control the leaching into the river for a while, but there is no way to control it for eternity. The pollution will affect all the people down river from Chalk River including Ottawa and even Montreal. Exposure to ionizing radiation can cause cancer and other disabling and potentially fatal diseases Nuclear energy produces extremely hazardous radioactive waste for which there is no viable disposal method. 

It is time to stop developing small nuclear reactors now before they contaminate our beautiful country. 

Venetia Crawford

Shawville, QC