A low-carbon future — with nuclear power

Manitoba stands at a crossroads. With the release of the province’s economic development strategy and roadmap to net zero, we have a rare opportunity to align our economic and energy priorities for a clean and secure future.

But sustainable growth will not happen by accident. It requires data-driven planning, foresight and courage.

Without a long-term plan, the cost of living will rise as energy prices climb and industries relocate to where electricity is cheaper and more reliable. Rural communities could see job opportunities disappear. Families might be told to conserve power during extreme weather because supply can’t keep up. That future isn’t far off.

Manitoba Hydro’s own planning shows new capacity could be required as early as fiscal 2029-30, with demand expected to more than double by 2050.

In the near term, Manitoba must make the most of what we already have through efficiency and demand-side management.

These tools stretch our existing capacity and buy us time. But they cannot meet the scale of growth ahead.

The global race to build digital infrastructure is accelerating demand for low-carbon, dependable electricity. Hyperscalers — large technology companies building data centres — are expanding rapidly, while electrification in transportation, industry and housing continues to grow.

At the same time, major projects like the proposed redevelopment of the Port of Churchill could significantly increase Manitoba’s power needs during both construction and operations. Meeting these growing demands while supporting economic and community development will require data-driven, long-term planning for new power generation.

Renewables such as wind and solar are vital to Manitoba’s energy future, but their output varies. Six hundred megawatts of wind deliver about 150 megawatts of firm capacity, and when the wind does not blow, the lights still need to stay on. Renewables alone cannot do it all. We need firm, clean baseload power to back them up.

This fall, the Manitoba Green Advantage hosted Powering Possibility: Manitoba’s Energy Future. Indigenous partners, business leaders and energy experts came together to discuss our province’s path forward. The message was clear: Manitoba needs a long-term energy plan that connects economic development, innovation and the Path to Net Zero by 2050, building an economy that is clean, reliable, affordable and competitive.

Across the country, other provinces are already acting. Ontario Power Generation has been licensed to build a BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at Darlington; New Brunswick’s NB Power is advancing the ARC-100 SMR at Point Lepreau; Saskatchewan is targeting the mid-2030s for its first SMR deployment near Estevan; and planning is underway in Alberta for a nuclear project at Peace River.

For many Manitobans, nuclear still evokes Cold War fears, but today’s technology is a different story.

Small modular reactors are compact, modern systems with advanced safety features that didn’t exist decades ago. While not a silver bullet, nuclear is emerging as a vital baseload tool, providing dependable, carbon-free power when the sun isn’t shining, the wind isn’t blowing or drought limits hydro capacity.

Waste remains a common concern, yet the total volume produced over a person’s lifetime would fit in a 250 ml coffee cup. And unlike carbon emissions that dissipate into the atmosphere, nuclear waste is fully contained, monitored and safely managed. In a diversified system, it complements renewables, strengthening both reliability and decarbonization.

Manitoba is not yet part of the interprovincial memorandum of understanding on SMRs, a partnership signed by New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Joining would not commit us to building a reactor. It would simply give Manitoba a seat at the table and an opportunity to help shape Canada’s clean energy policy, influence investment decisions and position our skilled workforce and critical mineral resources in a growing national supply chain.

Staying on the sidelines could mean being left behind as the next wave of clean energy development moves forward without us.

Participation would also enable Manitoba to leverage our existing research and infrastructure assets, including the Whiteshell Laboratories site near Pinawa. The facility represents decades of nuclear science expertise and could once again serve as a hub for applied research, testing and training.

With the right partnerships, Manitoba could re-establish itself as a leader in clean-energy innovation, turning a legacy site into a catalyst for the future.

Manitoba’s advantages are real. We have world-class hydroelectricity, abundant minerals and a culture of innovation. Other provinces are moving fast, and investors are watching for jurisdictions that can deliver clean, firm power. Aligning our economic and energy strategies would allow Manitoba to turn its natural strengths into lasting prosperity, but only if we act boldly and collaboratively.

Indigenous communities are already leading in clean energy partnerships across the province. Their leadership in stewardship, ownership and governance will be critical to achieving both reconciliation and resiliency.

Efficiency and conservation will always matter, but they are not substitutes for vision. Manitoba’s clean growth depends on planning beyond the next demand peak. The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, through the Manitoba Green Advantage, stands ready to help build that future. A future powered by innovation, grounded in evidence and inspired by the same resourcefulness that has always defined Manitobans.

Manitoba can either power the low-carbon economy, or be powered by those who do.

Christa Rust is the program director for the Manitoba Green Advantage, an initiative of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce that drives innovation, investment and collaboration to strengthen Manitoba’s leadership in the green economy.