Voters in the Municipality of South Bruce have spoken.
Officials reported Monday evening that a referendum on whether the municipality would be a willing host of a nuclear waste storage facility had narrowly passed.
According to the municipality, just over 51 per cent of the votes cast approved of declaring the community a willing host for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) Deep Geologic Repository (DGR).
The unofficial results, released just before 9 p.m., had 1,604 voting in favour of hosting, and 1,526 voting against it.
Out of over 4,500 eligible voters, 3,130 voters marked a ballot.
“We are so pleased that South Bruce voters came out to have their say on this important decision,” said Mayor Mark Goetz. “It is an extremely proud moment to have our community make such a momentous decision through a democratic vote.”
Goetz was asked if he was disappointed with just 69 per cent of eligible voters coming out for such a huge decision, but he says he's thrilled with the turnout with all things considered.
"Actually, in the grand scheme of things, and again, I get it, it's an important issue, and I would have liked to have seen 100 per cent of the people turn out, but I think the chances of that are slim to nil, but I believe this is probably close to a record if it isn't a record for voter turnout [in a municipal referendum]," Goetz stated.
The referendum's passage is the first step toward a waste storage facility from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.
"While the vote determined the Municipality is a willing host for the Project, it does not guarantee that the Project will be sited in South Bruce," a statement from the municipality said. "The NWMO will select its preferred site following the completion of willingness processes in other communities."
The NWMO still needs approval from Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, which will hold a referendum next month, and Saugeen Ojibway Nation, which has yet to announce its own plans. Mayor Goetz says he's happy that those communities will now get a say.
"If the project was turned down last night, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded Territory, they wouldn't have gotten a say. They were stewards of the land thousands of years before any of our ancestors showed up, so this now puts the decision making process in their hands," Goetz pointed out.
If the Indigenous communities all say yes, it still isn't a guarantee the DGR will come to South Bruce if the same thing happens in Ignace, Ontario.
"If that were to happen, and the same happened in the north, then the Nuclear Waste Management Organization would have to make a decision after that, as to what site they prefer over the other," added Goetz.
Following site approval, Goetz adds there would be nearly 10 years of licensing procedures, and another decade of prep work, with construction not starting until the 2040s.
Goetz adds he hopes the community can move forward together now and not hold any resentment or judgement regarding the referendum results.
-with files from Eric Thompson and Ryan Drury