It's time for South Bruce residents to head to the polls and determine the town's willingness to host a deep geological repository.
From 10 a.m. today until Monday, October 28, residents can vote on whether they're in favour or against hosting the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's waste storage facility for Canada's used nuclear fuel.
Municipality of South Bruce CAO Leanne Martin says there's approximately 4,300 eligible voters who can take part in this monumental decision.
"Eligible voters should have received a voter information letter in the mail, which will tell them how to vote, and if they haven't received that by this time, they should visit a voter help centre, or the municipal office," she said.
There will be two voter assistance centers set up, one at the Mildmay fire station and one at the Municipal Office in Teeswater. The referendum will use online and telephone voting, the same format used in the last five municipal elections.
Martin says the town has held a referendum in the past, but it was part of normal election cycle. This is the first time a byelection has been held for such a cause.
She says they'll aim to have the results posted shortly after polls close at 8 p.m. on October 28.
"It's anticipated that the election results will provided on the evening of October 28, as soon as possible following the close of elections," said Martin. "The results will be shared primarily through the municipal website, as well as through municipal social media channels."
Even if the result is yes, that doesn't mean development for the deep geological repository would begin. The NWMO still needs to get an answer on the willingness to host the project from both the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation is set to hold a referendum in late November. Saugeen Ojibway Nation have not announced any plans for a decision this year.
However, Carolyn Fell NWMO's Regional Communications Manager for South Bruce, says they still think they'll be able to make a decision on the host in 2024.
"This is will be the second willingness decision to come out and thereafter, we would be working with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation on their processes and talks are ongoing in those committees," she said. "We still anticipate making a decision on the final siting region of the deep geological repository in 2024."
Fell says the NWMO will be offering extended hours at their Teeswater office during the referendum, remaining open until 6:30 p.m.
CKNX News also reached out to Protect our Waterways, a group opposed to the project, but did not receive a response by publication.
For more information on the referendum and how to vote, visit the Municipality of South Bruce website.