Revealed Jan 23, 2025 • Final up to date Jan 23, 2025 • 4 minute learn
The standard territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. SunMedia
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Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) says it plans to difficulty a moratorium on future nuclear intensification and waste initiatives if no progress is made on nuclear legacy points in its territory.
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A joint letter from Nawash Chief Greg Nadjiwon and Saugeen Chief Conrad Ritchie despatched to SON members Jan. 22 says the joint chiefs and councils of SON had adopted a decision issuing the moratorium if substantial progress will not be made in direction of decision of nuclear legacy points inside six months.
“We will enforce this moratorium by all legal and political means necessary until a just and satisfactory resolution is in place,” the letter acknowledged. “Accordingly, the Nuclear Advisory Committee has been directed to pursue the resolution of legacy issues through agreements with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), other private nuclear operators, as well as the federal and provincial governments, and to report back to the Joint Council on progress made by May 2025.”
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Telephone calls to Nadjiwon and Ritchie requesting remark Jan. 23 weren’t instantly returned.
Within the assertion, SON stated that for a lot of a long time its lands have been exploited for the manufacturing of nuclear power and storage of radioactive waste, which has occurred with out session or SON consent.
“Today, our Territory holds a vast majority of Canada’s nuclear waste and hosts one of the largest nuclear facilities in the world,” the assertion reads. “Even now, following the announcement by NWMO that it will seek to build a deep geological repository (DGR) for used fuel in the north, SON is expected to continue to host the used fuel for another 60 years without our consent and without redress while the DGR undergoes the assessment process, licensing and permitting processes, and construction.”
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In late November, the NWMO introduced it had chosen a web site in northern Ontario within the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation territory and the Township of Ignace for a deep geological repository to accommodate Canada’s used nuclear gasoline. That web site was chosen over one other web site in South Bruce, which falls in SON territory.
NWMO has stated building of the positioning is meant to start out in 2033 and operation would start within the 2040s.
In an announcement offered by the NWMO on Thursday, the group stated it’s conscious of the decision adopted by SON, including that it is very important be aware that NWMO will not be chargeable for any interim storage of nuclear waste.
“The role of NWMO is to build permanent storage for used nuclear fuel and intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level nuclear waste,” the NWMO assertion stated.
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NWMO highlighted its determination to maneuver the method ahead in siting its DGR for used nuclear gasoline in northern Ontario, that it’s going to quickly start the regulatory evaluate course of led by the federal authorities, and that operation of the positioning is anticipated to start within the 2040s.
“Only then will our organization have a role in actively managing radioactive waste,” the NWMO assertion stated.
In its letter to members, SON stated it’s “unacceptable” that it continues to face inaction from OPG and different members of the nuclear trade and authorities in addressing these “injustices” to its folks.
“Their repeated failure to uphold commitments is an ongoing affront to SON’s rights,”
the letter states, including that it’s going to not enable the exploitation of its territory – referred to as Anishinaabekiing – with out “a fair and just resolution.”
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SON stated its rights to control its lands, safeguard its folks and make crucial selections about nuclear waste in its territory is not going to be compromised.
“We stand firm in our call for respect, equity, and real action,” the assertion reads.
“The Joint Chiefs and Councils have a deep and solemn responsibility to protect this Territory for our People and for all people that share our lands and waters. We take this responsibility seriously.”
SON stated it could proceed to supply updates to its members over the approaching months.
Bruce Energy, which operates the nuclear producing web site on the Lake Huron shore close to Tiverton, issued an announcement Jan. 23 by which it stated it revered that its facility is on the standard territory of SON and can “continue to engage with SON leadership and the community in an open, transparent and collaborative way to grow our partnership and address concerns and advance opportunities.”
“We also support the appropriate organizations engaging on historic concerns raised by SON,” the Bruce Energy assertion continued. “Bruce Power will continue to work as hard as we can every day to build trust with the SON leadership and community, expand collaboration related to our existing operation as we’ve done with our isotope partnership, and approach potential new opportunities in a manner that is unifying and brings meaningful benefit to the communities.”
OPG has additionally been contacted by The Solar Occasions for remark.
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