Hub Staff

Those who support and those who oppose Ontario Power Generation’s deep geological repository (DGR) proposed site on the Bruce Nuclear grounds in Kincardine will be able to have their say during the February 27 Committee of a Whole meeting and open forum session.

On Monday in Council Chambers, Councillor Dave Myette requested the motion of support be deferred to a later date as Councillors Cheryl Grace and Mike Myatt were not in attendance. Myette also said it would be fair for invested community groups to have another chance to speak before councillors on the subject, after the motion for support was successfully deferred almost exactly one year ago.

The councillor noted that the nature with which this came up was perceived by many as “rushed” and “didn't give due process for public to get their deportations and speakers together.”

Saugeen Shores Council deferred its decision to support the DGR 12 months ago, until Catherine McKenna, the newly appointed Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, received more information from OPG, after rejecting a February 18, 2016 Joint Review Panel (JRP) report that stated the proposed spent nuclear waste site is “not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.”

Mayor Mike Smith and councillors Neil Menage and Mike Myatt voted in support of the DGR proposed location during the February 2016 Council meeting before it was deferred.

Myette did not think council’s vote for or against would tip McKenna’s decision in one favour or the another. “It certainly is a way for us to express to the minister that we are the municipality that benefited from the generation of this waste and we don’t feel that it would be appropriate for us to pass the burden of dealing with this waste onto another municipality,” said Myette.

The deadline to submit comments on the additional information received from OPG is March 6, 2017.