BROAD OPENNESS TO NEW NUCLEAR, POLL FINDS

OTTAWA (February 27, 2019) – A new poll shows that 87 per cent of Canadians support or are open to small modular reactors (SMRs) as an alternative to fossil fuels.

The online poll, conducted in February for the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) by the independent firm Abacus Data, found 16 per cent of Canadians strongly supported, 27 per cent supported, and 43 per cent were open to SMRs as an alternative to fossil fuels.

The poll also found 80 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement that they would like to see Canada become a leader in SMR technology.

The CNA released the results ahead of its 2019 Conference and Trade Show, which runs from February 27 to March 1 in Ottawa.

“These quantified, independent results reinforce the view that the public is favourable towards small nuclear reactors playing a role in Canada’s decarbonization efforts,” said CNA President and CEO John Barrett. “The innovative, ultra-safe technologies under development today offer a real and achievable solution in combatting climate change. New nuclear is not a dream; it’s here now.”

The poll also found:

• Support for nuclear increased when respondents learned that nuclear power produces very little carbon.
• Eighty-one per cent of respondents agreed that to combat climate change we need to be open-minded about nuclear.
• Seventy-six per cent of respondents agreed that using fossil fuels is more dangerous to the planet than nuclear.

The survey was conducted online with 2,500 Canadians aged 18+ in February 2019. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample is +/- 1.96 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The data were weighted according to census to ensure sample matched Canada’s population according to age, gender, education, region.

About the CNA:

Since 1960, the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) has been the national voice of the Canadian nuclear industry. Working alongside our members and all communities of interest, the CNA promotes the industry nationally and internationally, works with governments on policies affecting the sector and works to increase awareness and understanding of the value nuclear technology brings to the environment, economy and the daily life of Canadians.

For more information:

Erin Polka
Director of Communications
(613) 237-4262
polkae@cna.ca