Major nuclear firm urges Ottawa's neutrality as demand for clean energy soars

A major firm is calling for Ottawa to remain impartial as it rolls out its nuclear strategy and the demand for clean energy soars.

Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel told a House of Commons committee on Wednesday that Ottawa needs to remain "technology neutral" in order to advance the country’s reputation and meet global market demand.

"Our competitors have the full support of their national governments. We don’t," he said. 

Canada launched a nuclear strategy in June that sets goals of doubling uranium exports and building up to 10 new nuclear reactors over the next 15 years.

The strategy also outlines a plan to boost foreign sales of Candu reactors, which are manufactured by Canadian company AtkinsRéalis, formerly SNC-Lavalin.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this month that AtkinsRéalis has a real shot at winning a lucrative tender to supply nuclear energy to Turkey — a prospect he said was remote a year ago.

Gitzel, whose company competes with AtkinsRéalis, said the federal government should "not put its finger on the scale" and advocate for all Canadian nuclear companies and their technologies.

Gitzel said Canada can be a "global nuclear superstar" but not if it limits technology diversification.

Gitzel argued the federal government was actively advocating against Cameco’s technology in markets like Poland where its nuclear reactors are under construction. 

"It seems unfair to me that Canadian champions have to compete with their own government to be successful," he told the committee. "Electrical utilities in Canada and around the world rely on Cameco to provide uranium, nuclear fuel and reactor technologies to generate nuclear power.

"Cameco is the nuclear fuel supply chain in Canada, and the reason Canada has a seat at the global nuclear fuel table."

A spokesperson for Tim Hodgson, the minister of energy and natural resources, said the federal government has not endorsed one technology over another.

"Decisions about electricity generation fall within provincial and territorial jurisdiction, and provinces and our international partners are best placed to determine the technologies that meet their needs," press secretary Charlotte Power said in a statement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2026. 

-With files from Nick Murray and Craig Lord

By Catherine Morrison | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.