Ontario will shut down seven nuclear reactors - all within 100 miles of the U.S. border - after a stinging report that found "deep and wide" problems with its energy program.
The report prepared for the government concluded that the province's reactors are still safe, but only at "minimally acceptable" levels.Allan Kupcis, president of state-owned Ontario Hydro, one of the largest utilities in North America, resigned Tuesday over the debacle.
The plan to shutter the seven reactors is expected to cost several billion dollars and force the utility to rely more on fossil fuel plants that generate more air pollution.
Local politicians called for a public inquiry into the future of Hydro.
"The nuclear unit was operating over all the early years as some sort of special nuclear cult," Hydro chairman Bill Farlinger said Wednesday.
"Senior management didn't dig into what was going on in this special unit."
Hydro wants to close four reactors at its Pickering station east of Toronto and three at the Bruce plant on Georgian Bay to free up resources to improve management, staff procedures and equipment at the other 12 working reactors.
It will be up to Hydro's board to decide when - or if - the shelved reactors will be started up again, Farlinger said.
U.S. consultant Carl Andognini, who prepared the report, said the nuclear reactors, built in the 1970s and 1980s, were designed and built well, but Hydro failed to operate and maintain them effectively.
The company tolerates safety shortfalls and leaves many employees without proper training, his report said.
"It's acceptable to cut corners," said the study. "It is not acceptable to make waves. Those who have made waves have been fired or sidelined. . . . Attention to detail is not as important as getting the job done."
The utility says it doesn't plan to increase rates and doesn't anticipate major layoffs among the 10,000 employees.
Greater reliance on fossil fuel will mean a 50 percent increase in emissions at those plants, said John Fox, Hydro executive vice president.