Canada’s 2022 budget plan, published earlier this month, includes nearly CAD120m (USD100m, €88m) for Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to support activities related to small modular reactor development, such as nuclear waste reduction, building SMR regulatory capacity and creating a fuel supply chain.

The plan includes CAD50.7m, and CAD500,000 ongoing, for the CNSC to build the capacity to regulate small modular reactors and work with international partners on global regulatory harmonisation.

The plan would also allow the Canada Infrastructure Bank to invest in SMR projects and other low-carbon technologies.