“The planet is burning. We have to do something about it,” said Society President Michelle Johnston. She has two children – aged 25 and 27 – and she is concerned about the impact her generation has had on the world they’ll inherit. It’s one of the main reasons Johnston has led the charge in the Society’s campaign for nuclear energy expansion.
Former Society President Michelle Johnston at COP 28 Climate Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2023
At the heart of this campaign is the call to switch from carbon-intensive fossil fuels for our energy needs to zero-emissions sources.
“I have a responsibility to effect change if I can, so that there will be a planet here for my children,” she said.
Johnston strives to apply an Indigenous lens to her understanding of climate change. The seven generations principle encourages us to think beyond our current society when making choices and taking action. “When I am making a decision today, how is that going to impact seven generations from now? As a society, we need to start thinking about that more,” said Johnston.
Scientific experts are saying that climate change caused by the emission of greenhouse gases is an imminent threat to our world. The international community has recognized the importance of nuclear power amidst this threat. Canada was one of 22 nations that signed a pledge at the COP 28 Climate Summit to triple nuclear energy production by 2050, recognizing “the key role of nuclear energy in achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.”
“Wind and solar are great. They have their place. But they aren’t going to maintain your baseload requirements,” explained Johnston. This has been a central message of the Society’s Electrify Ontario campaign, which included the launch of ElectrifyOntario.ca in 2023.
The innovative website features an interactive Energy Mixer tool that allows the user to experiment with different energy levels from different sources, with the goal of meeting carbon emissions targets while meeting Ontario’s energy needs. The conclusion: it can’t be done without nuclear.
She acknowledged the invaluable work of Society External Relations Specialist Mike Belmore, who she says was one of the campaign’s architects. “Mike brings a lot of insight from a strategy perspective with the sector.”
Much credit also goes to communication officers Jeremy Johnston-Kaye and Adam Chalef, who managed the website. Society Economist and Researcher Nathan Jackson was also critical to the project, who authored a suite of whitepapers featured on the website.
“Nathan did the research. Nathan brought the facts forward that really advanced the campaign and solidified it,” said Johnston. Sometimes this involved following up with members who work in the sector, who provided critical information throughout the research process.
“We are a union that represents engineers and lawyers. We’re evidence-based and we need the facts,” said Johnston.
Equipped with interactive communication tools and a chest of public policy research, Johnston has taken the campaign to decision makers and influencers. She said she’s carrying the torch from former Society President Scott Travers, who prioritized nuclear advocacy during his tenure.
As the representative of nuclear professionals, the Society is an effective advocate in the public sphere. “Our folks are engineers, technical professionals, and supervisors at OPG, NWMO, Kinectrics, and Bruce Power. They help direct the design. And we have members involved from the regulatory perspective.”
“We bring our integrity to the table, we bring expertise to the table, and we bring evidence-based information to the table. That’s why I think we’re respected in the sector,” said Johnston.
While it can be difficult to measure the impact of advocacy work, Johnston sees the refurbishment of Pickering Nuclear Generating Station as a notable victory. When she first met with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) President Ken Hartwick, she pushed back against the decommissioning of Pickering Nuclear Station.
In her conversations with Hartwick and policymakers like then-Energy Minister Todd Smith, Johnston made the case for refurbishment. “We’re electrifying the province. Why are we decommissioning a station that we already have? Yes, it’s an aged asset, but why don’t we look at leveraging that asset and refurbishing it?”
In January of this year, Smith announced that the provincial government would refurbish part of the station, keeping the plant in operation for at least another 30 years. The four nuclear units are CANDU reactors, and their refurbishment will create approximately 11,000 jobs per year, according to the province.
When speaking with policy makers, Johnston notes the importance of building meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples when it comes to developing nuclear energy projects. “If you’re not engaging with the Indigenous community on the land of the nuclear project you want to initiate, don’t even try to move down that path,” she explains.
“If you’re not engaging with the Indigenous community on the land of the nuclear project you want to initiate, don’t even try to move down that path.”
“It’s not a matter of a checkbox. It’s a matter of engagement. There should be a partnership where equity is involved, and the Indigenous community should benefit from it.”
Since the former Education Minister Stephen Lecce has taken over the Energy and Electrification portfolio, Johnston has highlighted to Lecce the connection between nuclear expansion and education. She’s asking how the education system can educate students about the benefits of nuclear power, so that they can see themselves working in the industry.
“Because once we get shovels in the ground to build the nuclear plants, to build the Small Modular Reactors, you’re going to need people,” she explained.
She noted how concerned young people are about climate change. She believes this can be a powerful way to spark interest in nuclear jobs.
The Society can also be proud of the progress that it has made within the labour movement when it comes to supporting nuclear energy. For two and a half decades, efforts have been underway to achieve consensus in the labour movement around the expansion of nuclear power. In 2023, both the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) adopted resolutions supporting nuclear energy.
“It was a very strong message from the workers in Ontario,” exclaimed Johnston.
Johnston attributes these victories to the networking and educational work of the Society. “Mike [Belmore] put me in contact with the right people. We did a lot of background work.”
During the CLC annual convention, the Society hosted a film screening of Oliver Stone’s Nuclear Now at a theatre. The screening happened before the pro-nuclear resolution passed.
Johnston has worked passionately with Belmore to coordinate site tours of Bruce Power for, labour allies, community leaders, and politicians of all political stripes. “People who aren’t familiar with nuclear can come into the plant, get a full tour of it, and ask questions.”
After the tour of the nuclear facility, guests can often tour the OPG’s Nuclear Sustainability Services site where spent fuel is stored and handled.
“I can’t tell you how many tours I’ve been on. The tour guides say that I could lead them myself,” joked Johnston.
The tours have been critical to educating critical players about nuclear power, demystifying an industry that is often misunderstood. “I firmly believe that you shouldn’t have an opinion on something until you educate yourself about it,” said Johnston. “I say, ‘come out, get the tour under your belts, and then let’s have an intelligent conversation about it.’”
“Everybody has to come together to make this happen. Everybody. That includes industry, government, and unions. As soon as we can get our heads wrapped around that, we’ll be more successful.”
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