Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, wrapped up a five-day tour of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia on September 4, 2026. The trip was designed to showcase how Western Canada is becoming the cornerstone of the country’s new national energy strategy, with nuclear power and critical minerals at the forefront.
The most significant stops were in Saskatchewan. Hodgson visited the Jansen mine and the Saskatchewan Research Council’s rare earth processing facility — two operations that demonstrate Canada’s ability to cover the entire supply chain, from extraction and processing to the export of advanced technologies. The province currently accounts for roughly 24% of global uranium production, a share set to grow. This year, the federal government approved the first new mining permits in Saskatchewan in over a decade, including the Rook I mine, which is estimated to potentially meet 20% of global uranium demand and is expected to break ground by the end of 2026.
On the economic front, Hodgson announced nearly $12 million for Saskatoon businesses in response to U.S. tariffs — funds earmarked for productive investment, supply chain diversification, and local job creation. It was a clear signal that energy policy is now directly intertwined with industrial policy and economic security.
The tour fits into a broader framework. In June 2026, the Canadian government released its Nuclear Energy Strategy, targeting a doubling of national grid capacity by 2050. The plan calls for the construction of up to ten reactors by 2040, including the G7’s first small modular reactor at the Darlington site in Ontario, capable of generating up to 300 megawatts per unit. Saskatchewan is evaluating both large-scale reactors and SMRs, with a target horizon of 2035. Alberta, meanwhile, is working to develop its own nuclear roadmap by January 2027, as part of a memorandum of understanding with Ottawa.
The natural resources sector is currently valued at $459 billion, representing 16% of Canada’s GDP and supporting 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs. Western Canada alone generates around 62% of the national GDP tied to natural resources. These figures explain why the federal government is building its energy strategy around this region — not from a boardroom in Ottawa.
Canada’s nuclear strategy also aims to double the sector’s workforce by 2050, attract billions in private investment, and position the country as a net exporter of nuclear technology. With uranium mines expanding, SMRs moving through the licensing process, and a formally established national strategy in place, Canada is now one of the most active players in the global race for clean atomic energy.
