In his September 19th CBC interview, Minister of Natural Reources Seamus O'Regan broadly hinted that small modular reactors might show up in the Throne Speech on September 23rd. A self-acknowledged fan of science fiction, Minister O'Regan should not be allowed to wield his light sabre powers over the Government of Canada's COVID-recovery plan by diverting taxpayers dollars into private sector nuclear pipe dreams.

Here are the facts:

• SMRs will delay climate action - 15 years to build untested technology is too long. Lower-cost, proven renewable energy exists now
• SMRs have no business case and will require billions in public funds - not an option for our fiscal environment already strained by COVID-19
• SMRs will create more radioactive wastes, different and in addition to what already exist. and won't "recycle" or reduce nuclear waste stockpiles
• an SMR "roadmap" was developed with the nuclear industry in 2018 and consultation with the public, announced for 2020, has not happened

The federal government must - at minimum - consult with Canadians and Indigenous peoples before committing large amounts of taxpayers funds to assist the private sector in developing nuclear technologies which - if ever brought to fruition - would generate radioactive waste, link Canada to a plutonium economy and weapons production, and proliferate nuclear risk to locations and communities across Canada.