Canada’s Municipality of South Bruce Council has endorsed the Hosting Agreement between the Municipality and the Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (NWMO). Mayor Mark Goetz and CAO Leanne Martin signed the agreement on behalf of the Municipality following a vote in the Council. The area is one of two potential host sites for a deep geologic repository selected in a process launched by the NWMO in 2010. The Township of Ignace signed a hosting agreement with the NWMO in March.
This Hosting Agreement details the next steps if South Bruce decides it is a willing host, and it is selected for the NWMO Project to manage Canada’s nuclear waste. It also sets out how South Bruce would exit the process if it is not a willing host, or if it is willing to host but is not selected by the NWMO.
“Throughout the process, Council has focused on ensuring the Project would meet our community’s shared principles,” said Mayor Goetz. “This agreement represents our best efforts to do that. It will help people better understand what the Project could mean for South Bruce and help them make an informed decision in the referendum.”
Lise Morton, Vice-President of Site Selection at the NWMO said: “The Municipality of South Bruce and NWMO have co-created an agreement that is community-focused, building on South Bruce’s strong foundations and envisioning future possibilities. In preparation for the referendum, we encourage everyone to read the agreement and consider the benefits and impacts – including foundational investments and the creation of good jobs now and in the future.”
The Hosting Agreement is an important milestone before the community decides if it is willing. It provides voters with a clear map of how the community’s 36 Guiding Principles, which reflect its priorities, will be addressed. These cover health and environmental protection, community benefits and an ongoing voice in the Project.
The Municipality of South Bruce also understands and respects that Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation have their own discussions with the NWMO regarding the Project and will express their willingness decision in their own way.
The public can visit the Municipal website to read the Agreement and supporting documents. A four-page backgrounder describing what the Agreement means and what happens next is being mailed to all households in the Municipality. Hard copies of the Hosting Agreement are also available at the local libraries and at the Municipal Office. The community is invited to attend the South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Forum on 15 May which will feature a panel discussion on the Hosting Agreement.
Image: South Bruce Mayor Mark Goetz and Nuclear Waste Management Organization President and CEO Laurie Swami sign the agreement (courtesy of NWMO)
