Canada and India reach nuclear power agreement

According to the Globe and Mail, Canada will now be able to ship nuclear hardware to India for the first time in roughly four decades. After a Stephen Harper’s visit to New Delhi, Canada and India announced that they will be clearing the diplomatic logjam that once prevented Canadians from selling nuclear material and technology to India.

   However, Harper has not provided Canadians with any answers as to when nuclear trade might occur. Aurèle Gervaise, commission spokesman, has address Canadian concerns by stating that its nuclear material is only used for peaceful means. In fact, the International Atomic Energy Agency will monitor India on behalf of Canada.

    Harper’s six day visit in Delhi focused on touring India in order to convince New Delhi that it should be expanding it’s trade and invest with Canada by signing more agreements.

Two years ago, Canada and India had reached a nuclear co-operation deal that was meant to be an opportunity for a large new export business for Canadian uranium and reactor companies. This allowed for the two countries to begin fixing the uncooperative relations that occurred in 1976, when Indian tested its first nuclear bomb that used plutonium from Canadian-donated test reactor.

However, the 2010 deal never came into force through because India did not feel that Canada should have the right to verify how India handles any Canadian nuclear material as they already report their activities to the IAEA.

Harper predicts that the outcome of this new accordance will allow for Canadian companies to play a larger role in helping India meet its growing energy needs as well as generate millions of dollars in new business contacts and create high-quality jobs in Canada.