Dustin Duncan, former Saskatchewan government minister with responsibilities spanning energy and economic development, has joined as the new Co-Chair of the Canadians for CANDU campaign, alongside former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and former Ontario Premier Mike Harris. The announcement came on August 26, 2026, at a time when the Prairie province is seriously weighing the role of large-scale nuclear power in its future energy mix.
The campaign, launched in February 2024 by AtkinsRéalis — a Montreal-based engineering and nuclear services group — aims to promote CANDU technology both domestically and in international markets. CANDU reactors run on natural uranium and require no enrichment: this means fuel can be mined, refined, and used entirely within Canada, eliminating any dependence on foreign supply chains. In the current climate of trade tensions with the United States, that advantage has taken on clear political weight.
Duncan brings with him an intimate knowledge of Saskatchewan’s energy landscape and institutional fabric. The province is already the world’s leading uranium producer and is home to advanced small modular reactor projects: SaskPower is evaluating two SMR sites, at Estevan and Elbow, while the Saskatchewan Research Council is pursuing licensing for a microreactor. Duncan’s entry into the campaign adds a credible, locally grounded voice — distinct from the national profiles of the previous Co-Chairs.
The broader context matters. A poll published by the campaign in July 2026, conducted by Relay Strategies, shows that eight in ten Canadians prefer nuclear technology that maximizes local employment. Some 72% trust Canadian nuclear technology more than American. These figures reflect a genuine shift in public sentiment: energy sovereignty has become an argument that resonates beyond industry conferences and into mainstream opinion. Canadians for CANDU is tapping into that shift and channeling it into organized political pressure.
CANDU technology holds a structural advantage that goes beyond the fuel question. Canada owns the intellectual property across the entire reactor lifecycle — from control systems to safety procedures. Every CANDU project built on Canadian soil generates thousands of skilled jobs: engineers, welders, plant operators. AtkinsRéalis projects that global electricity demand will grow by up to 30% by 2030, and countries seeking to decarbonize their grids need reliable baseload power. CANDU is already an industrially mature, certified, and deployment-ready answer.
Duncan’s entry into the campaign’s leadership signals something specific: the pro-CANDU movement is taking root in the provinces with the largest uranium reserves and the most ambitious energy plans. Saskatchewan is not merely a raw material supplier — it aspires to become a hub of Canada’s nuclear industry. Should the province choose CANDU technology for its large-scale facilities, the demonstration effect on other provinces would be hard to ignore. As Co-Chair, Duncan is well positioned to help steer that decision from the inside.
