THUNDER BAY — People need to understand it’s far from a done deal that a nuclear waste site will be built in Northwestern Ontario, Dodie LeGassick said Wednesday.
LeGassick, a We the Nuclear Free North member, made the remark after a petition against the deep geological repository, or DGR, was tabled in the House of Commons by MPs including Thunder Bay–Rainy River Liberal Marcus Powlowski.
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization announced on Nov. 28 it has selected a location between Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and Ignace township for a DGR that could be built in the 2030s and early 2040s, pending regulatory and environmental approvals.
But the fight is far from over, LeGassick told Newswatch.
“This agreement that Wabigoon Lake has gotten into is only for the next phase, and they’ve said to the media that it does not mean that they’ve given their OK or yes to the DGR.
“I think people need to realize that, because a lot of people have just kind of given up.
“They don’t understand and they’ve given up for good reason, because NWMO is in all of their headlines and all of whatever they’re putting out with media is saying that it’s a done deal.”
Wabigoon Lake leadership has said the First Nation is proceeding with “site characterization” and its members did not say yes to constructing the underground repository when they voted in a referendum last month, she said.
The text of the referendum question has not been released publicly. In an interview with Newswatch, Wabigoon chief Clayton Wetelainen said the results delivered “an overwhelming mandate to continue to the next phase of this project."
LeGassick also said the DGR has strong opposition among many First Nations in the region.
The petition calls on the natural resources minister “to immediately direct the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to stop the siting process for their proposed deep geological repository for highly radioactive nuclear fuel waste.”
Signed by about 1,500 people before the NWMO announced its site choice, the petition was tabled in the House recently by Powlowski and Brian Masse, the NDP member for Windsor West.
Timmins–James Bay MP Charlie Angus, also a New Democrat, couldn’t table the signatures he was given but likely will do so in early January, said We the Nuclear Free North volunteer Wendy O’Connor.
The signatures were collected over the summer by volunteers organized by We the Nuclear Free North, Northwatch and the South Bruce-based Protect Our Waterways.
“The signatories express their serious and heartfelt concerns regarding the safety of the transportation and storage of nuclear materials through and in their communities in northern Ontario,” Powlowski said in the House.
“Although the decision has already been made, the signatories asked me to present this petition calling on the government to immediately direct the NWMO to stop the siting process for a deep geological repository.”
Powlowski told Newswatch in late November he supports the NWMO’s site decision.
He explained Wednesday that he tabled the petition and signatures because “I thought that it was my job … to present their position.”
