South Bruce council has endorsed a process to determine the community's willingness to store Canada's used nuclear fuel.
In a release, the municipality says council has directed staff to prepare for the submission of a question to voters by way of a referendum after the next municipal election, and after a draft hosting agreement has been negotiated with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
The release says that this will allow for a "variety of studies and peer reviews about the Project to be completed".
The decision isn't sitting well with the group Protect Our Waterways.
In its own release, the group states it was shocked to learn about the decision. The group says it was scheduled to present the results of its petition to Council at its first meeting of the New Year, on January 11. And the release goes on to state that "the decision denies the opportunity for the over 1000 petition-signers – who want the referendum held alongside the 2022 municipal election - the right to be heard and present their case before a decision was made."
Protect Our Waterways still intends to make its case to Council, as scheduled, on January 11 and will be holding a rally outside Council chambers prior to its presentation.
Meanwhile research in the area will continue through 2022 and 2023 with more than 40 studies planned or underway to address topics like health and safety, financial benefits, environmental impacts and more.
--with files from Steve Sabourin
