Ignace council has voted to advance in the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's (NWMO) site selection process for a potential $26-billion deep geological repository (DGR) for nuclear waste.
This decision shifts the spotlight to Teeswater in the Municipality of South Bruce, where a crucial vote will be held in October 2024 to determine whether it will become the site for Canada’s largest nuclear waste storage facility.
On Wednesday, Ignace council endorsed a recommendation from its willingness committee to continue with the NWMO's selection process. This move signals strong community support but does not finalize Ignace as the repository site. The NWMO is also considering Teeswater as a potential location, with a final decision expected by the end of the year.
For Teeswater, the October referendum is a pivotal moment. Scheduled for October 28, 2024, residents will be asked if they support South Bruce becoming a willing host for the NWMO’s proposed DGR. If the vote passes with more than 50 per cent of participants in favor and a turnout of at least 50 per cent, the town could gain hundreds of high-paying jobs and $418 million in subsidies over the project’s duration. A "no" vote would still bring in $4 million but would forgo the long-term economic benefits.
The proposed repository, which would store millions of bundles of spent nuclear fuel 600 meters underground, has raised safety and environmental concerns. Protecting Our Waterways – No Nuclear Waste, a local citizens' group, argues that the NWMO's plan is "untested, unsustainable, and unwanted in our community." Earlier this month, the South Bruce Community Liason Committee learned about the municipality's hosting agreement with NWMO.
The NWMO also requires the approval of nearby Indigenous communities, including the Saugeen First Nation. Chief Conrad Ritchie of Saugeen has stated that no comment will be made until after a meeting with representatives from the Ojibway of the Nawash First Nation.
If chosen, the construction of the repository would begin in 2033, with operations starting in the early 2040s.
This decision holds significant implications for Teeswater, which could see a major transformation from a quiet farm community to a hub of nuclear waste management.