SOUTH BRUCE, ON – Residents of South Bruce have said they are willing to host a nuclear waste depository. A very narrow majority, 51 per cent of voters, supported the proposal in a referendum on Monday.
“We are so pleased that South Bruce voters came out to have their say on this important decision” said Mayor Mark Goetz in a news release issued by the southern Ontario municipality.
“It is an extremely proud moment to have our community make such a momentous decision through a democratic vote.”
The decision keeps the municipality in the running as potential host for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) Deep Geologic Repository.
It's the second municipality to declare itself willing, Ignace made its decision in July.
According to the release from South Bruce, 69 per cent of eligible voters participated in the referendum and the outcome is binding under Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act.
South Bruce council will formally receive the referendum results at a special Council meeting on Nov 12.
The NWMO has said it will make a decision this year as to which of the two sites it prefers. In both cases, a nearby first nation is also conducting a willingness process that is still ongoing.
