Liberal MP's anti-nuclear comments 'disappointing,' says Sai

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Liberal MP's anti-nuclear comments 'disappointing,' says Saint John colleague

[ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brun ... -1.6823158 ]

Wayne Long says Liberals need to support nuclear power to reduce carbon emissions

Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Apr 26, 2023 1:19 PM CDT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago

Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long said 'people can be misinformed and not understand' the role nuclear can play in helping Canada reach the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. (Graham Thompson/CBC)

A New Brunswick Liberal MP says it's "disappointing" to see his Fredericton caucus colleague oppose small modular nuclear reactors.

Saint John-Rothesay's Wayne Long argues it's time for his party to "pick a lane" and get behind the technology.

Long was responding to MP Jenica Atwin's comments at a news conference in Ottawa organized by a New Brunswick group opposed to nuclear power.

The Trudeau government says expanding nuclear power is part of its strategy to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.

Liberal MP Jenica Atwin said she was supporting constituents who want to inform Canadians about 'the associated risk and the many unknowns' with small modular reactors. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)

But Atwin, first elected as a Green MP in 2019 before switching to the Liberals in 2021, said Tuesday she was supporting constituents who want to inform Canadians about "the associated risk and the many unknowns" with SMRs.

"I want to be clear that I am here as an individual, a concerned individual, a mother, and as a member of parliament for Fredericton," Atwin said at the Parliament Hill news conference organized by the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development–New Brunswick.

Long called Atwin's intervention "healthy" because it shows diverse opinions are welcome in the federal Liberal caucus.

But he said "people can be misinformed and not understand" the role nuclear energy can play in helping Canada reach the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

"I recognize that there's a pocket in the Fredericton area that's very Green, if you will, and very anti-nuclear. … Call it like it is," Long said. . . . .