'No' group may seek legal advice as local council officially declares itself willing host of nuclear waste
Despite a difference of less than 100 votes, there will not be a recount in the Municipality of South Bruce, after councillors decided to unanimously accept the community’s nuclear waste referendum results
“With the electronic voting, it's the hitting of a button and it spits the results out. So, I mean, I think there was a 78 vote-spread between yes and no. I don't know in the history of elections, that has ever been overturned with that far of a spread,” said South Bruce Mayor, Mark Goetz.
Late last month, 1,604 South Bruce residents voted in favour of the rural community hosting Canada’s first permanent underground nuclear waste storage facility. Voting against the idea were 1,526 residents.
Some residents who voted ‘no’ wanted a recount, but that plan has been abandoned following Tuesday night’s council decision. The fight to stop the project, however, will not stop, they say.
“We could look at legal ramifications of the agreement itself, and we most likely will do that. We still don't believe that this is the right project for South Bruce,” said Bill Noll, member of South Bruce’s community movement against the project, called ‘Protect our Waterways-No Nuclear Waste.’
The proposed plan to bury 6.1 million used nuclear fuel bundles under 1,500 acres of farmers’ fields north of Teeswater has been a contentious one, with the surprisingly tight vote doing little to ease that community tension.
“Obviously I'm happy that it's a ‘yes.’ I'm a little disappointed that half our community is upset about the results. You know, that's disheartening to know that almost half our community is sad,” said Shelia Whytock, a Teeswater resident who spearheaded a community group in favour of the project, called ‘Willing to Listen-South Bruce Proud.’
Unofficial results reported by Municipality of South Bruce for the community’s referendum on a proposed nuclear waste project. Oct. 28, 2024. (Source: Municipality of South Bruce)Noll said groups like Protect our Waterways, still opposed to the $26-billion deep geological repository plan, will be taking their concerns to Ottawa.
“We will be going to Parliament, the House Commons, and having three different MPs present our petition and asking the federal government to get involved and to actually stop the process, at this point,” said Noll.
Mayor Goetz said he hopes the time for fighting is over, and South Bruce can move forward, together, as they await word on whether Canada’s used nuclear fuel is coming to his community, or the Town of Ignace in Northern Ontario.
“It doesn't matter how they voted. The results are the results. And now, as a community, we need to accept the results and move on,” said Goetz.
Outline of proposed Deep Geological Repository to store Canada’s used nuclear fuel, 550 meters underground. (Source: Nuclear Waste Management Organization)The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) still needs “willingness decisions” from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation before picking a preferred site for the project.
The NWMO wants to pick a site by the end of the year, but officials with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation said they will not hold a community vote any sooner than next year.
By “delivering a determination of the community’s willingness,” South Bruce will receive $4 million from the NWMO — part of a potential $418-million hosting agreement, should South Bruce be selected to host Canada’s used nuclear fuel forever.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
Donald Trump picks Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.
Dave Coulier, 'Full House' star, has cancer
Dave Coulier, an actor and comedian who found fame as Uncle Joey on "Full House," has revealed he has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer.
Canada bracing for 'tough' talks as Trump's pick calls northern border an 'extreme vulnerability'
The Canadian government is aware it's likely in for 'tough conversations' with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration, after his border czar said there is 'an extreme national security vulnerability' he intends to tackle at the Canada-U.S. border.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
This Canadian airline will adopt Apple's new AirTag feature to help recover lost baggage. Here's how
Apple announced that a new feature, 'Share Item Location,' will help users locate and recover misplaced items by sharing an AirTag location with third parties including airlines.
Oldest stone tablet inscribed with Bible's Ten Commandments to be sold at auction
The oldest known tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament is expected to fetch up to US$2 million when it goes up for auction next month.
Overwhelmed families surrendering custody of their children to CAS
Overwhelmed families in Ontario are having to surrender their children to the Children's Aid Society, and according to the society, the residential crisis is part of the problem.
Kitchener, Ont. woman with incurable cancer dies, fight continues to get provincial funding for expensive drug treatment
The family of a young Kitchener woman, who died Sunday from a rare bile duct cancer, is promising her quest to get provincial funding for a drug that helped extend her life will continue.