South Bruce will not be the site of a deep geological repository (DGR) for Canada’s used nuclear fuel.
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) announced this morning it has selected the Township of Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation as the host communities for the future DGR.
“The people of both host communities have demonstrated their willingness to move forward in this process,” the NWMO says in a release. “Earlier this month, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation confirmed its willingness, following a decision-making process that was open to all its members. The Township of Ignace completed a decision-making process with its residents in July, which also confirmed willingness.”
The Municipality of South Bruce issued a news release acknowledging it was notified by the NWMO it would not be the DGR host site.
“Through its 12-year participation in the site selection process the municipality has positioned itself to pursue alternative economic development opportunities,” South Bruce Mayor Mark Goetz says in a release. “South Bruce looks forward to exploring these opportunities to create success for future generations.”
Goetz wasn’t immediately available for additional comment.
South Bruce residents narrowly voted in a referendum last month to being a willing host community for the DGR. Saugeen Ojibway Nation was also being consulted by the NWMO and would have been required to consent as a host as well. The NWMO site selection announcement makes no mention of South Bruce or Saugeen First Nation, other than acknowledging in a note the two communities were among the two remaining sites that were being considered.
Bayshore Broadcasting News reached out the NWMO for an interview and will update this story with more information after receiving a response.
“This is a historic moment,” says NWMO President and CEO Laurie Swami in a statement. “This project will solve an environmental issue and supports Canada’s climate change goals. And today’s decision was driven by a consent-based siting process led by Canadians and Indigenous peoples. This is what making history looks like.”
More to come…