Over the course of a decade, communities throughout northwestern Ontario have been asking important questions about Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel in a deep geological repository. Answering them is one of the most rewarding parts of our work.
While the questions we hear span all levels of detail about the project, at the heart of many of the conversations we have is this: why here?
In 2010, when the NWMO asked communities across Canada if they were interested in learning more about the potential of hosting a deep geological repository, 22 communities put up their hands, and Ignace was the first. We've only ever considered areas where a community proactively expressed an interest in learning about the project and exploring the potential to host it.
The NWMO plans to select a site in 2024, and two areas remain in our site selection process: the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario.
Canada’s plan reflects the values and priorities that Canadians and Indigenous peoples identified through a three-year dialogue before site selection began.
At both remaining sites, through increasingly intensive technical study and social engagement over more than a decade we've seen strong potential for the project to be implemented safely and in a way that benefits long-term well-being local communities and their residents.
From the beginning, the NWMO has committed that the project will only move forward with informed and willing hosts. Selecting an appropriate site for the project means choosing a location for the repository that is safe for people and the environment, where there has been active community education and engagement through open and transparent dialogue.
Our approach is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and reflects our commitment to Reconciliation.
We know that people want to learn more about this project, which is why we’re dedicated to answering questions the public might have and engaging with people throughout the region.
You can find the NWMO team at events around the northwestern region, email us at contactus@nwmo.ca or stop into our Learn More Centres in Ignace or Dryden.
Joanne Jacyk, Director, Site Selection Ignace/Northwest
Joe Heil, Director, Indigenous Engagement for Northern Ontario
