nuclear-news

Ontarians overwhelmingly say no to new nuclear.

Ontario Clean Air Alliance, 17 May 2025

The people of Ontario overwhelmingly oppose building American-designed reactors at the Darlington Nuclear Station and much prefer lower cost and more secure solar and wind energy according to polling done for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance by Oraclepoll Research.

Eighty percent (80%) of Ontarians think the province should cancel its contract for GE-Hitachi reactors that will require American-produced enriched uranium to operate. That is a stunning number that reflects a consensus that we rarely see on any issue these days.

Similarly, a huge majority of Ontarians think this province should be investing in low-cost, safe renewable power rather than U.S. nuclear reactors, with 70% saying wind and solar are the better choices. Two-thirds of Ontarians think we should be developing wind power projects in the Great Lakes, for example, as long as proper environmental protection measures are taken.

Expanding our electricity connections with our neighbours in Manitoba and Quebec is a complete no-brainer for the people of this province with 88% fully in favour. In addition, 72% think our electric utilities should provide no-money-down, zero-interest financing for the installation of electric heat pumps to make it easier for Ontarians to reduce their use of American gas for home heating.

The priorities of the people of Ontario couldn’t be clearer: we want a strong, independent renewable energy system that makes the most of our advantages, like harnessing the steady and strong winds of the Great Lakes, and cooperating with our provincial neighbours. Support for increasing dependence on an erratic U.S. government couldn’t be lower. In fact, spending tens of billions of dollars on American nuclear technology strikes eight out of ten Ontarians as a bad choice. 

So why does our Premier not understand this? Why is his government gung-ho on an outdated, expensive and risky way of meeting our growing electricity demands? Why does he want to line the pockets of American companies and put Ontarians at the mercy of American decision makers?…….

Angela Bischoff, Director

P.S.  About the poll: This was a telephone survey of 1,200 Ontario residents 18 years and older in the second week of May 2025. The margin of error for a sample this size is 2.8% 19 times out of 20. 

May 19, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | public opinion