Community Liaison Committee Introduces New Members and Hold Election to Begin 2023 Meetings

For Immediate Release
January 13, 2023

Community Liaison Committee Introduces New Members and Hold Election to Begin 2023 Meetings

SOUTH BRUCE, ON – The Community Liaison Committee (CLC) met Thursday, January 12th for its inaugural meeting since the 2022-2026 Council was sworn in. In the first meeting of the CLC since November 3rd 2022, CLC members and municipal staff began the meeting by providing introductions, including the three newly appointed committee members.

South Bruce Council passed a motion in November 2022 to expand the capacity of CLC members from being capped at 5, to allow for up to 7 members of the public to serve. The municipality then put out a call to the public in local newspapers, through municipal social media and on the municipal website in search for applications to fill the newly created vacancies.

The new CLC members include Jeff Goetz, Councillor for South Bruce in the Mildmay-Carrick ward, who is serving as one of the Council appointees on the CLC. Joining him are community members Ron Schnurr, a proud husband and father of four, and a 4th generation South Bruce resident who has had a long time career at the Mildmay Cheese Haus and Jessica Fischer, a lifelong South Bruce resident who works at Women’s House serving Grey Bruce and resides in Teeswater with her husband and two young sons.

An election was held to determine which CLC member would serve as Chair and as Vice-Chair for the next two years. By unanimous decision, Jim Gowland was selected as Chair of the CLC and Doug Culbert was selected as Vice-Chair.
The South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Team presented a brief history of the CLC to attendees that highlighted key motions passed, upcoming educational opportunities as well as the processes and responsibilities of the CLC.

The CLC was provided information on a number of topics including, a review of 2022 educational presentations, upcoming conference opportunities, Early Investment in Education and Skills funding update, as well as the CLC meeting schedule and hosting method for 2023. They also passed a motion directing the South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Team to proceed in planning a conference focused on the NWMO Project to be held from April 4-5, 2023.

The CLC voted to continue holding meetings on the first Thursday of every month, excluding April, and to continue in a virtual format until the CLC revisits the issue.

To review the complete January agenda package, please visit the municipal website. The next CLC meeting will be held on Thursday, February 2nd at 7pm and will include an educational presentation from Caitlin Burley, Manager of Transportation Engagement with the NWMO.

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South Bruce is one of two remaining communities 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.