The firm, formerly known as SNC-Lavalin, registered to lobby the provincial government last week amid the trade chaos caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariff announcements. As trade uncertainty with the U.S. led Premier Doug Ford to prohibit his government from entering into contracts with most U.S. suppliers, the engineering firm is looking to promote an entirely Canadian-made approach to nuclear power. “While Ontario and Canada face the threat of U.S. tariffs,” AtkinsRéalis’ registration said, it is advocating for “domestic supply chains for manufacturing and fuel-sourcing, and supporting Ontario’s goals of increasing energy exports.”

Ontario is facing a 75 per cent increase in energy demand over the next 25 years. To meet the need, the province will soon open bidding for the biggest competitively sourced energy purchase in Ontario history. Nuclear is expected to be a big part of Ontario’s energy future. On April 5, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved Ontario’s plan to build the first small modular reactor (SMR) in the G7 at the Darlington Nuclear Plant.