A recount in South Bruce's referendum on hosting a deep geological repository (DGR) for nuclear waste appears unlikely, despite a narrow margin separating the "yes" and "no" sides.
The referendum to determine if South Bruce would become a "willing host" for Canada’s first permanent nuclear waste storage, concluded on October 28 with 51.2 per cent voting in favour and 48.8 per cent against, a 2.4 percentage point (78 votes) difference. The close result has spurred calls from some “no” voters for a recount, but procedural guidelines under the Municipal Elections Act make this improbable.
According to the Act, a recount can only occur under specific conditions: if the votes are tied, through a resolution by South Bruce council, or by order from the Superior Court of Justice. With over 50 per cent of eligible voters participating, the high turnout meets the legal threshold for the outcome to be implemented without further challenges.
The proposed DGR project, led by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), aims to store used nuclear fuel under farmland near Teeswater. The plan promises to bring hundreds of jobs and significant investment to the area.
The NWMO must now secure support from nearby Indigenous communities before moving ahead with the site selection process. The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), whose territory includes South Bruce, has not yet decided whether it would agree to be considered a willing host. SON released a statement following South Bruce’s vote, affirming that its independent process would determine its position on the project, and noting that they don't expect to hold a vote until next year.