The NWMO site selection process supported by almost three quarters of  residents in Grey-Bruce-Huron counties

Press Release

According to a new survey, more Huron-Bruce-Grey residents are aware of and supportive of the NWMO and the process to select a single, preferred destination for a deep geological repository to host Canada’s used nuclear fuel over the long term.

A community poll released last week by Ipsos for Bruce Power, shows six in ten (59%) respondents are aware of the consultation process underway to select a site for nuclear fuel. Three quarters of respondents (73%) support the consultation and study process, an increase from a previous poll conducted in winter 2020.

“The community members of South Bruce have been integral to our engagement process in the area,” said Lise Morton, VP of Site Selection. “The residents I’ve talked to are engaged, interested, and honest in their feedback and thoughts. While that insight is critical for our process, it’s those personal connections I’ve made with community members here that have been particularly rewarding.”

Ipsos surveyed 380 respondents by land line and 300 by cellphone in Grey, Bruce and Huron counties including 98 South Bruce residents by land line. The results were weighted by region, gender, and age to ensure the final sample reflects the population of all three counties. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.75 per cent, 19 times out of 20. You can read the full survey results here.

Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel, known as Adaptive Phased Management, emerged through extensive dialogue with Canadians and Indigenous peoples from coast to coast to coast, and aligns with the values and priorities they identified as important. The site selection process was designed to ensure the location chosen will be safe and secure, and we will only proceed with the support of informed and willing hosts. It reflects the ideas, experience and best advice of a broad cross-section of Canadians and Indigenous peoples who shared their thoughts on what an open, transparent, fair and inclusive process for making this decision would include.

About the NWMO

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel inside a deep geological repository, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

Founded in 2002, the NWMO has been guided for 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers that are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. Canada’s plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Métis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement it. The NWMO plans to select a site in 2023, and two areas remain in our site selection process: the Wabigoon-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario.

IBF5