Sask. government criticized over exploration of SMR technology

Saskatchewan Green Party Leader Naomi Hunter accused the government of “kicking the climate crisis down the road,” by exploring small modular reactor (SMR) technology in a press conference Monday.
Hunter was present for a Monday morning event in front of the legislature, where she called on the provincial government to scrap its bid to explore SMR technology.
“We do not have the time for fairy tales that take us far into the future,” she said. “We don’t have 10 years to come up with a solution. (Premier) Scott Moe and the Sask. Party, they’re just kicking the climate crisis down the road like they always do.”
Hunter argued that the government’s move towards nuclear energy is not aiding the fight against climate change.
“They claim that this is because they suddenly care about the climate crisis and are looking for solutions,” she said. “If that was the case, we would be installing immediate solutions of green energy: solar, wind, geothermal.”
“This province has the best solar gain in all of Canada and we have some of the best opportunities for wind energy.”
Don Morgan, minister responsible for SaskPower, responded to the criticism with an assurance that SMRs were being explored alongside other ongoing developments in renewable energy.
“We think it’s appropriate to have a careful look at it, we need to maintain baseload power in our province,” he explained. “The only way to get baseload power is from things like hydro, coal, or natural gas and I understand and appreciate their desire to have wind and solar and we’ve also done a lot of that.”
Between the Golden South Wind Facility, located near Assiniboia, and the Blue Hill Wind Facility near Herbert, SaskPower has added 375 megawatts of emissions free power to the provincial grid.
The province plans to add 100 more megawatts of renewable energy once a vendor is found to build what will be the province’s largest solar plant near Estevan. The competition to select a vendor is set to run in the coming weeks.
“We certainly want to have a blend as we go forward,” said Morgan, referring to the multiple forms of power generation.
Amita Kuttner, the interim leader of the Green Party of Canada, also attended the event in front of the legislature, and criticized the proposed move to SMR technology as the wrong approach.
“What you are trading it for is again corporate power,” they explained. “Which is not solving the underlying causes of the climate emergency.”
Saskatchewan is currently in a partnership with British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario to collaborate on the advancement of SMR technology. According to Morgan, cost and safety are top of mind as the program is explored further.
“There’s a number of things that are underway; selection of a potential vendor, site selection, and then duty to consult with First Nations partners and public engagement as well,” he said.
“Our goal is to have good, strong, reliable base-load power and SMRs are certainty something that we would want to consider. But consider very carefully, and with a lot of consultation and careful analysis.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Early estimates indicate 200 structures damaged in Halifax-area wildfire
Approximately 200 homes or structures have been damaged by the wildfire that began burning Sunday in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area, according to preliminary estimates.

Danielle Smith's UCP holds onto power in Alberta
Danielle Smith is still the premier of Alberta, surviving a vigorous campaign and a tight vote Monday against NDP challenger Rachel Notley.
Lone tenant in a $400-a-month apartment could hold up major Montreal condo project
Carla White is the only remaining tenant in her building, which is slated to be demolished to make room for a 176-unit condo project. But in order to move forward, the developer must reach an agreement with White -- and she says she won't leave until she's provided with a home that offers the long-term stability she needs to ensure she won't end up back on the streets.
opinion | Find out how much contribution room is left in your RESP to avoid penalties
Opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a great way to fund your child’s future education. Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew outlines the contribution rules for RESPs and explains how to find out how much contribution room you have left so that you can avoid penalties.
Russia says drones lightly damage Moscow buildings before dawn, while Ukraine's capital bombarded
A rare drone attack jolted Moscow early Tuesday, causing only light damage but forcing evacuations as residential buildings were struck in the Russian capital for the first time in the war against Ukraine. The Kremlin, meanwhile, pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours.
Taipei's hottest new menu item is a 14-legged crustacean
A 14-legged giant isopod is the highlight of a new dish at a ramen restaurant in Taipei and it has people queuing up—both for pictures and for a bite from this bowl of noodles.
China launches new crew for space station, with eye to putting astronauts on moon before 2030
China launched a new three-person crew for its orbiting space station on Tuesday, with an eye to putting astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade.
U.K. government fights demand to hand over Boris Johnson's messages to COVID-19 inquiry
As Britain's prime minister, Boris Johnson established an independent inquiry into the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the inquiry wants to see, in full, what Johnson wrote to other U.K. officials as the outbreak raged -- but the government is fighting a demand to hand over the material.
Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster: Nun's body shows little decay since 2019 death
Hundreds of people flocked to a small town in Missouri this week and last to see a Black nun whose body has barely decomposed since 2019. Some say it's a sign of holiness in Catholicism, while others say the lack of decomposition may not be as rare as people think.