Bruce Power announced Thursday it is establishing the Bruce Power Retooling and Economic Recovery Council to leverage the province’s nuclear supply chain and assist in Ontario’s fight against COIVD-19.

Mike Rencheck, President and CEO, was joined by elected officials, along with business and supply chain leaders Thursday morning for a Facebook Live event to speak about the initiative.

Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program is Canada’s second largest infrastructure project and largest private sector infrastructure program, creating 22,000 direct and indirect jobs which contribute $4 billion to Ontario’s Gross Domestic product (GDP) and $8-$11 billion to Canada’s GDP.

"With 90 per cent of the investment in manufactured goods and services coming from 480 companies in Ontario and other provinces, we can harness these capabilities in the fight against COVID-19, and help drive our economic recovery," read an April 30 media release.

Highlights on the Council include:

• The Council will be formed for the duration of the pandemic and inclusive of all of Bruce Power’s Ontario-based suppliers. The focus will be on the continued retooling of the supply chain to meet front-line COVID-19 needs, and to plan to contribute to the province’s economy recovery in the short, medium and long term;
Exploring new uses for nuclear medical applications including isotopes for the sterilization of medical equipment and long-term supply security. This will include exporting isotopes to assist in the global fight against the pandemic, launching a project to sterilize and re-use N95 masks through high-volume irradiation;

• Leveraging the strong quality and rigour within the nuclear supply chain to support the health care sector through the rapid production of medical Personal Protection Equipment for front line-workers, including masks, face shields and gowns along with technology for sanitization and potential re-use, participation in pilot projects to make ventilators within the Bruce Power supply chain or help identify technology options to better utilize existing ventilators;

• Enhancing “Buy Local” tools and approaches to ensure small businesses are utilized fully in communities where nuclear suppliers are located;

• Facilitating the production of hand sanitizer and other cleaning products for distribution to communities, and especially targeted towards seniors and First Nations communities.