The debate is ‘over’ Trudeau says at Paris AI summit: Nuclear ‘must be part of the solution’

To nuclear power advocates in Canada and especially east of Toronto, where nuclear expansion is already in full speed ahead mode, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s speech at the Paris AI summit Monday was sweet music to their ears.

“Let me say this once and for all: As an environmentalist, the debate is over,” Trudeau told the summit delegates. “Large-scale nuclear reactors must be part of the solution for the future because if we’re not willing to embrace nuclear now then coal-powered AI from other parts of the world will shape the coming decades for the worse.”

It’s not the first time Trudeau has spoken publicly about the benefits of nuclear power, but hearing it on the world stage is always nice, noted Canadians for Nuclear Energy president and co-founder Dr. Chris Keefer.

“It’s significant and it’s definitely great to hear,” Keefer said, adding that there has been a turnaround in policy from the ruling Liberals in the past three or four years, thanks in part to the advocacy work by the Canadians for Nuclear Energy organization and their allies.

“We’ve worked very hard for this moment,” Keefer said. “It has been interesting to see that change in policy.”

Nuclear power in Ontario is experiencing a renaissance of late, with the Pickering ‘B’ plant in the preliminary stages of a full refurbishment, the nearby Darlington plant refurbishment about three-quarters complete and ahead of schedule (as well as building a four-pack of small modular reactors on site) and the Bruce power plant also undergoing a refurbishment with an expansion in its future.

And then there’s the abandoned Wesleyville site in Port Hope, just a few kilometres from the Darlington plant, with impact assessment activities getting underway this year for the possible construction of a brand-new nuclear plant.

Ontario Power Generation officials say the site could support a nuclear plant with a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 megawatts, which would make it Canada’s largest nuclear facility.

Trudeau said the need for more electricity to power artificial intelligence will be a key topic of discussion at the G7 this year, with Canada assuming the presidency of the international organization.

He also told attendees at a session Monday the world needs regulation to ensure the benefits of artificial intelligence aren’t enjoyed only by extremely wealthy “oligarchs.”