75-Minute Debate (12 May 2022)

From Hansard (12 May 2022)

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Small Modular Reactor Technology in Saskatchewan

The Assembly was debating the following motion moved by Terry Jenson (Sask Party - Martensville-Warman):

That this Assembly acknowledges and supports small modular reactors (SMRs) as a safe, reliable, zero-emissions energy source to complement renewable energy by providing stable, baseload, clean energy capable of powering Saskatchewan’s growing economy and population while creating new opportunities to export Canadian knowledge and expertise around the world.

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Mr. McLeod: — Mr. Deputy Speaker, in 2020, Dr. Esam Hussein, the current dean of engineering and applied sciences at the University of Regina, had this to say about nuclear energy in Saskatchewan, and I quote:

Small modular reactors can support sustainable development by economically providing reliable base-load electricity, curtailing greenhouse gas emissions and enabling social justice by supplying energy to isolated and deprived communities and those with limited financial means.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, on this side of the House we listen to the experts. To the member from Saskatoon Nutana: why don’t you agree with Dr. Hussein and our government that SMRs are a reliable way to provide clean baseload electricity to Saskatchewan people?

Ms. Ritchie: — Well thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Happy to take the question from the member opposite. Dr. Esam Hussein, who is the former dean of the college of engineering at the University of Regina, is somebody who I hold in high esteem. I consider him to be a colleague of mine. I was very, very, very pleased to be able to sit on their board and have many conversations with Dr. Hussein about many topics around Saskatchewan’s energy future.

And so I think that, you know, the information that experts provide is exactly the kind of information that should be coming to a special committee so we can have informed debate and conversations about the options before us.

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