After a consultation procedure that began in 2010, the citizens of the municipality of Ignace voted in favor of spacing out a nuclear waste site valued at $22 billion.
In an inconsistent peer-to-peer and online vote held in April, 77. 3 percent of citizens voted in favor of continuing the process, and 20. 8 percent voted against.
There were 1,065 eligible voters, of whom 640 voted. The votes in favor of the yes totaled 495, while 133 voted against and another 12 people abstained.
The effects were announced at a council meeting that was broadcast live Wednesday afternoon, in front of 100 other people watching via Zoom.
Roger Dufault, co-chair of the ad hoc committee tasked with consulting residents, said the procedure is broad and impartial.
“The effects are representative of how the network feels,” Dufault said.
He said the committee “concluded that the network had to be fully involved in the consultation process. “
Dufault said it was a lot of work, “but we were satisfied to do it. “
After a consultation procedure that began in 2010, the citizens of the municipality of Ignace voted in favor of spacing out a nuclear waste site valued at $22 billion. (Archive)
“From the effects it is clear that the majority is in a position to move forward,” he said.
Ignace Mayor Kimberly Baigrie is emotional after the effects were announced.
“We started our adventure more than 14 years ago,” Baigrie said.
“We raised our hands (and said) that we were interested in hearing and receiving more information about this opportunity for our community. And well, did they inform us more?
He said it’s not a resolution that “the council can take on its own” and that they knew they had to consult with everyone.
“I’m very proud of this community,” she said.
“I’m very proud that the voice of this has come together. “
The national procedure began in 2010, when 22 communities expressed interest in hosting Canada’s deep geological deposit. The Ojibway Nation of Lake Ignace-Wabigoon is one of the last two sites considered.
Ignace has a population of approximately 1200 and is located on Highway 17 between Thunder Bay and the Manitoba border in northwestern Ontario.
The plan would be to bury the nuclear waste in deep granite rocks in the Canadian Shield.
“Canada’s plan can only move forward with informed and willing hosts,” the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) said of the process.
“This means that other people who live there want to understand what it means to host a project like this and its location in the region. “
Ignace created a special committee to examine, analyze and give advice to the municipality on the convenience of hosting the site. The advice to move forward was approved unanimously on Wednesday. A counselor who travels and is unable to attend.
At the press conference following the meeting, Baigrie rejected the suggestion that the consultation procedure was not fair.
“I would never say it’s one-sided,” he said, adding that they were looking to “have an open dialogue” with others who opposed the decision.
“We mobilize our entire community. “
Although Ignace voted in favor, the nearby Ojibway Nation of Lake Wabigoon will also need to follow procedure for the plan to move forward.
This resolution is in October.
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