To the editor,
The year 2024 has begun, and on Jan. 28, an anniversary will not be acknowledged.
That date in 2020 was when the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) made it known that it had purchased or optioned 1,500 acres of farmland in the Teeswater area from Darren Ireland for the location of a proposed deep geological repository (DGR) – a place to bury 2.6 billion-plus bundles of highly-radioactive nuclear waste. This year, the NWMO will make the decision of the DGR’s location – Ignace in Northern Ontario or South Bruce.
So, what has happened over the past four years? The Municipality of South Bruce and the NWMO have pushed many studies at you to read, promoting all the “pros” about this project. No one ever learns about the “cons” concerning nuclear waste because the NWMO does not want you to know about them. Have you learned about the pros and cons?
A Community Liaison Committee formed around 2012, and has held monthly meetings to present all the scientific technical information needed to know about a DGR. Have you been attending the monthly meeting, especially since 2020?
The NWMO constantly has press releases about the money being given to the municipality, community organizations and events to convince you that they would be a good business to have in South Bruce. If the NWMO is so good, why does the NWMO ‘Learn More’ office in Teeswater seemingly have so many staffing changes?
On the proposed site, by a studied bore hole, a new house and large shed have been constructed. Is this new residence part of the NWMO’s plans?
How many questions have you been asking? South Bruce residents are to be “informed and willing” before this major project proceeds. Are you completely informed? Mayor Mark Goetz wants all the information required out by April. Then the referendum will be planned for the fall. Will South Bruce get an in-person, verified paper vote, or just a computerized internet vote which are not considered private and secure? South Bruce, you had better know what you are voting for. Are you informed?
Mayor Goetz hopes the community vote will mend this divided community, whatever the decision is. That won’t happen because one group may not get their high-paying jobs, or one group may lose their small town/agricultural lifestyle. The divide will take many years, if not generations to mend. People have memories. It will take some time to get over the division that has been caused by the NWMO, municipal council and individual people.
S.A. McDonald,
Culross/Teeswater
