Media Release: December 13 Council

For Immediate Release
Dec 14, 2022

South Bruce Council Reaffirms Referendum, Approves Framework for NWMO Negotiations and Multi-Year Funding Extension

At its meeting on Tuesday December 13, South Bruce Council took several actions related to the site selection process for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) project to store used nuclear fuel.

South Bruce is one of the two siting areas remaining in the NWMO’s process to identify a location to permanently and safely store used nuclear fuel. As part of this process, Council moved to:

• Approve a framework for negotiating a hosting agreement with the NWMO to ensure they meet local priorities and expectations.
• Reaffirm the decision to hold a referendum to measure community willingness.
• Extend the multi-year funding agreement to reflect the NWMO’s new timelines for deciding willingness.

Hosting Agreement Negotiations to Reflect Community Priorities

The hosting agreement will lay out all of the NWMO’s obligations and financial commitments, should South Bruce be selected as the final Project location.

The negotiations will be guided by 36 Guiding Principles and a June 2022 Memorandum of Understanding, which reflects community priorities and expectations for the project. The hosting agreement will outline how the NWMO will deliver community benefits should South Bruce be selected as the preferred location. 

The hosting agreement will only take effect should South Bruce determine it is willing to be a host community and move forward in the site selection process. If the community is unwilling to host, the agreement would not move forward and a wind down program would take effect.

“This framework is another important step in the site selection process and sets us on a course to pursue the draft hosting agreement which addresses local priorities,” said Lise Morton, Vice-President of Site Selection at the NWMO. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the new Council, as well as continuing ongoing engagement throughout the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area.”

Referendum on Willingness Reaffirmed

Council also reaffirmed a previous decision to hold a referendum to measure the community’s willingness to host the Project. During public consultation, a referendum emerged as the preferred choice. The referendum process would be started after negotiations are completed.

“I think it's important for South Bruce residents to have all the information they need to make an informed decision," said Mayor Mark Goetz." This includes knowing about the project, how it will impact our community, and the commitments the NWMO is making to build the deep geological repository and the Centre of Expertise."

NWMO Funding Extended

The NWMO has extended the decision on community willingness to a fourth year, ending in December 2024. Accordingly, Council agreed to extend the Multi-Year Funding Agreement including Site Selection Process to the end of December 2024.

South Bruce Council approved a $2.6 million budget for the South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Project for 2023 and approved to carry forward unused dollars from the 2022 Budget that was allotted for the peer review of studies.

The resource funding covers the costs of core activities, such as administration, staffing, studies, peer reviews, and learning opportunities organized by the South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Team. It also includes investment in community well being as well as education and skills. This portion is to recognize South Bruce’s leadership in undertaking the site selection process.

For more information:

Tyler Robinson,
Communications/Public Relations Officer
South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Team
Municipality of South Bruce
trobinson@southbruce.ca
519-901-3959

South Bruce is one of two remaining siting areas that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is considering for the site of a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel, a Centre of Expertise and many supporting facilities. The Municipality of South Bruce is working towards an informed decision for the community through the South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Project team, the Community Liaison Committee, and independent reviews to determine if the site is safe for people and the environment, offers positive benefits and if the community is willing to host the site.