
The Committee for Future Generations receives our Activist of the Year award in Saskatoon.
The Council of Canadians has been opposing a high-level nuclear waste dump in Saskatchewan since 2011.
CBC now reports, “The NWMO [Nuclear Waste Management Organization] announced that new geological studies in the vicinity of Creighton, Sask. and Schreiber, Ont. ‘revealed that areas assessed near both communities have geological complexities that reduce the likelihood of finding a suitable site for either area to safely host a used nuclear fuel repository. …These latest studies show there is limited potential in the areas of Creighton or Schreiber to find a repository site that would meet the safety requirements of the project.'”
While the NWMO may say Creighton lacks the suitable physical characteristics for the disposal of nuclear waste, it is also very true that a well-organized opposition developed against a nuclear fuel repository there. The grassroots fight against a nuclear waste site in northern Saskatchewan was led by the Committee for Future Generations and the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan.
Our chapters in Saskatchewan were active in opposing a nuclear waste dump. In May 2012, Council of Canadians Board member and Prince Albert chapter activist Rick Sawa and Regina chapter activist Jim Elliott were both present at the Saskatchewan Legislature for the presentation of a petition signed by 12,000 people against the nuclear waste storage site. As part of the effort to keep nuclear waste out of Saskatchewan, chapters and the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan organized speaking events with nuclear expert Dr. Jim Harding, author of Canada’s Deadly Secret, in Wynard, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, La Ronge and Regina. And in October 2013, the Council of Canadians awarded the Committee for Future Generations with our Activist of the Year award at our annual conference in Saskatoon.
The Council of Canadians congratulates the Committee for Future Generations, the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan and all others who opposed this nuclear waste proposal. The Committee for Future Generations says, “How do we portray the way we feel today? There aren’t sufficient words to describe it. Today we are grateful to each and every person who contributed in any small way to ensuring there will be no high-level nuclear waste buried in Saskatchewan. Our future generations have been spared from this menace.”
The CBC article adds that, “The NWMO continues to investigate the feasibility of nuclear waste storage in or near nine other communities, all of which are in Ontario. They include White River, Manitouwadge, Hornepayne, Ignace, Blind River, Elliot Lake, Central Huron, Huron-Kinloss and South Bruce.” The Council of Canadians also extends its solidarity to these communities.
Further reading
Walk against nuclear waste to challenge NWMO (July 2011 blog)
Council of Canadians backs petition and walk against nuclear waste in Saskatchewan (August 2011 blog)
Council activists attend petition delivery at Saskatchewan Legislature against nuclear waste (May 2012 blog)
Pinehouse and English River removed from nuclear waste dump shortlist (November 2013 blog)
WIN! High-level nuclear waste dump ruled out for Saugeen Shores (January 2014 blog)