Canada Gearing Up Nuclear Threat Emergency Protocols

A Russian serviceman patrols the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in Energodar on May 1, 2022. Andrey Borodulin/AFP via Getty Images

The takeover of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was likely the catalyst that prompted Canada to update its nuclear threat emergency protocols, according to nuclear weapons experts.

“What the [Canadian] government did say is, ‘Okay, that’s never happened. You’ve also got [Russian President Vladimir] Putin talking about nuclear weapons. We’ve had protocols in place for a long time for that. But now there’s a more tangible threat,’” said Ed Waller, a professor in the Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science at OntarioTechU.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the largest in Europe, was occupied by Russian forces following their invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

Fears of a major nuclear incident have intensified following the severance of the reactor from the power grid on several occasions.

It was subsequently revealed recently that Canada is updating its emergency protocols to deal with the fallout from a possible tactical nuclear exchange in Europe and to address the threat of incoming radiation contamination from across the ocean from a Ukrainian power plant explosion.

The measures include updating a top-secret plan to ensure the federal government can continue to function in a severe crisis, as well as coordinate communications with the public in the event of an international nuclear crisis, according to notes obtained by The Canadian Press via the Access to Information Act.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, the Department of Public Safety said the Continuity of Constitutional Government Plan enables the Canadian government to “continue essential executive, legislative, and judicial activities, while maintaining the constitutional tradition of Canada” in the event of a catastrophic emergency.

“For security reasons, any details in relation to planning activities with the three branches of government cannot be released. Public Safety continues to work with all key stakeholders to ensure plans are up-to-date and effective,” it added.

In addition to threats surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Mr. Putin has made several veiled threats regarding the use of nuclear weapons since its invasion of Ukraine. On Sept. 21, 2022, he warned NATO that “those who try to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the weather vane can turn and point towards them.”

Although Mr. Waller believes Mr. Putin’s words are “posturing,” he said the situation could still potentially escalate into a limited nuclear exchange and that it would be devastating for the world.

“I think the possibility of a nuclear war is extremely unlikely, but what Canada is doing is making sure our missile warning protocol is sufficient to get the message out on what to do in the event of any hazard like that,” he said.

Robin Collins, co-chair of the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, agreed that the takeover of the nuclear power plant has raised concerns about the potential of a meltdown, similar to what was seen in Chernobyl in 1986 and Fukushima in 2011.

“The Ukraine Crisis has no doubt raised concerns in the Canadian government as to potential nuclear events. And therefore, they’re looking inward and saying, ‘What can we do if this were to happen?’” he said.

Mr. Collins said that although the prospect of Canada being involved in a nuclear incident is very small, preparing for the possibility is “not an irrational thing.”

“Because one of the problems is tensions possibly escalating to nuclear war, simply because NATO, including Canada, has nuclear deterrence policies that almost inevitably lead to an escalation,” he said.