THUNDER BAY — The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, which began in the spring of 2021, will recommence its comprehensive study of the role of the federal government in protecting and managing Canada's freshwater resources in Canada.
The committee invited stakeholders, federal departments, and the public to submit briefs related to freshwater and received 56 briefs, including one from the Northern Ontario alliance, We the Nuclear Free North.
Wendy O'Connor, a spokesperson for the alliance and one of their brief's authors, said they outlined the risks around the transportation and burying of nuclear fuel waste — risks they say the Nuclear Waste Management Organization project poses to the lakes, rivers and groundwater of Northern Ontario.
She said they chose World Water Day, March 22, to submit their brief to the Parliamentary committee.
"Water used for washing down the nuclear waste transportation packages will become contaminated with radionuclides," O'Connor told The Chronicle-Journal. "According to the (Nuclear Waste Management Organization's) published details, that water will be sent to a settling pond and then released to natural water bodies in the vicinity of the site, as will the contaminated water that will be pumped from the underground repository."
O'Connor noted despite assurances from the nuclear industry, it remains entirely possible that the nuclear waste itself, deposited underground halfway between Ignace and Dryden, will contaminate the deep groundwater in the near or long term — contamination that she said will eventually reach surface water in the vast watershed.
In February, presentations from Environment North and We the Nuclear Free North were made to Thunder Bay city council's inter-governmental affairs committee citing the dangers of transporting nuclear waste through Ontario.
"All of the communities along the transportation routes from southern Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec are not going to be consulted as far as consent to the project," O'Connor said. "These are communities, including Thunder Bay, in which truckloads of this waste will potentially be going through their towns but they have no say."
As for Thunder Bay, its neighbouring communities and First Nations being consulted about the transport of nuclear waste via truck and rail through their communities, Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Boshcoff said he is certain that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization will follow consulting protocol that will include all of the stakeholders.
"I'm certain that if Ignace is selected, Thunder Bay will undergo a 'willingness' process as well," he said.
He said he doesn't believe that Thunder Bay has been consulted at this point about the transportation of nuclear waste through its community.
"I will ensure that Thunder Bay will be included should further interest in the Ignace site continue."
The Chronicle Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
