Nuclear War and Durham Region: Why We're Not Prepared

By Dale Jodoin In today’s world, the threat of nuclear war, though distant to some, is a reality that cannot be ignored. If a global conflict were to erupt, Durham Region in Ontario could be one of the first areas to face devastating consequences. It’s a chilling thought, but one we must confront, as Durham hosts not one, but two nuclear power plants: Pickering and Darlington. These plants, strategically located on Lake Ontario, also sit in close proximity to major U.S. cities like New York, placing the region on the radar of hostile nations like Russia or North Korea. First and foremost, the presence of these two nuclear facilities makes Durham a prime target in the event of an international conflict. The sheer power these plants generate is vital, but it also poses an undeniable risk. Should any nation attempt to cripple Canadian infrastructure, these plants would be obvious targets. And that’s only the beginning of Durham’s potential problems. The numbers don’t lie. According to Natural Resources Canada, Pickering and Darlington nuclear stations combined generate nearly 7,500 megawatts of electricity, enough to power millions of homes. These plants also sit just 56 kilometers (35 miles) from Toronto, a city with a population of over 6.7 million people in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). An attack on these facilities would not only disrupt Canada’s energy grid but could also lead to catastrophic radioactive fallout affecting millions across southern Ontario. The Canadian government estimates that in the event of a serious nuclear disaster, more than 500,000 people would need to be evacuated from the Durham and GTA regions alone. But the evacuation infrastructure in place is inadequate. There are only a handful of major highways and arterial roads connecting the region to the north, and these would quickly become clogged with panicked residents. In a simulation conducted by Public Safety Canada, it was estimated that the roads out of the GTA could become impassable within 2-3 hours of an emergency, leaving thousands trapped with nowhere to go. On the American side, reports from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security show that fallout from a nuclear strike on a facility like Pickering or Darlington could travel across Lake Ontario, impacting major U.S. cities like Buffalo and Rochester. The population in these cities totals around 2 million people, adding to the overall devastation. The fallout could spread across multiple states, affecting tens of millions of Americans in densely populated areas. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nuclear explosion would release radioactive materials that could remain hazardous for several weeks, contaminating water supplies, crops, and infrastructure. Two major state highways, essential routes between Toronto and areas to the east, run through the region. In the event of an attack, these highways would be shut down instantly. This would leave civilians in Durham with no way to evacuate and leave Toronto effectively trapped, unable to move eastward. The chaos that would ensue as people tried to escape would be unimaginable, especially without any formal evacuation or defense plans in place. Disturbingly, there is no clear, widely disseminated plan on what residents of Durham—or Canada in general—should do in case of a nuclear attack. In 2018, a survey by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) found that 60% of Canadians living near nuclear facilities were unaware of the emergency protocols in the event of a nuclear disaster. Despite the proximity to Pickering and Darlington, iodine pills—which help reduce radiation exposure—are not provided to all residents in the region, and most people are unaware they should have them on hand. When compared to the U.S., where citizens near nuclear plants are regularly given such pills and have access to clear emergency plans, Canada falls woefully short. What makes this situation even more alarming is the state of our military defenses. Over the past decade, Canada’s military has been hollowed out, with the government neglecting to invest in necessary equipment, training, and defense infrastructure. The Liberal and NDP governments have spent vast amounts of taxpayer money on international causes while overlooking our military at home. Our soldiers are under-equipped, and our air and naval defenses are near non-existent compared to other global powers. We depend heavily on the United States for our defense, which leaves us vulnerable. If war were declared tomorrow, there are no guarantees that we could defend our own territory effectively, let alone coordinate with our allies. There is no visible military presence in Durham, and should a threat arise, we would be unprepared to protect critical assets like our nuclear plants. For a region so vital to the country’s energy grid and positioned near a major population center, this is a glaring failure of government. We should have air defenses and military personnel stationed in key locations, ready to respond in the event of an emergency. Yet, right now, nothing is in place to prevent or respond to a nuclear strike on our soil. Another critical issue is the lack of reliable infrastructure for evacuation. The roads leading north from Durham are few and far between, and in the event of a large-scale evacuation, the region would descend into chaos. Without proper routes and coordinated evacuation plans, people would be left to fend for themselves, with little hope of escape. In addition, our hospitals, already struggling with routine care, would be completely overwhelmed by an influx of radiation victims. If our healthcare system is barely coping now, how could it possibly handle the catastrophic fallout of a nuclear attack? According to a 2019 report by the Canadian Medical Association, hospitals in the Durham region are already operating at over 90% capacity, leaving very little room to accommodate mass casualties in the event of a disaster. In the worst-case scenario, a nuclear strike could result in thousands of injuries from both the blast and radiation exposure, pushing hospitals far beyond their limits. Medical professionals warn that the region’s healthcare infrastructure would collapse under the strain, leading to a humanitarian crisis on top of the physical devastation. The sad truth is that Canada is woefully unprepared for a nuclear disaster, and this is largely due to the government’s misplaced priorities. Over the last eight years, we have seen our military underfunded and neglected while the government focuses on external issues. Meanwhile, our soldiers lack even the most basic equipment, including proper winter gear. Recently, a scandal emerged in which our military was provided with sleeping bags that were entirely unsuitable for the harsh Canadian winter—this is the level of incompetence we’re dealing with. Heads should have rolled for this, but instead, the situation persists, and our armed forces continue to suffer. The government’s failure to invest in our defense infrastructure leaves all Canadians vulnerable, but especially those in critical areas like Durham. It’s not an exaggeration to say that lives are at risk. A nuclear attack, while perhaps unlikely, is not impossible. And when you consider the strategic importance of Durham and its nuclear plants, it becomes all the more concerning that no real defense measures are in place. At the end of the day, I’m not suggesting that nuclear war is inevitable. But I am saying that we are not even close to being prepared. And while our government continues to make excuses and divert funds to international causes, the reality is that Canadians—particularly those in Durham Region—are being left unprotected. This is not just a political issue; it’s a matter of national security. We need a government that prioritizes the safety of its people and invests in the military and emergency preparedness plans necessary to defend our country. The time to act is now, before it’s too late. We need to demand better from our leaders and ensure that, should the unthinkable happen, we have the resources and plans in place to protect our homes and families. The alternative is simply too grim to imagine.