On Friday (Jan 31) members of Saugeen Ojibway Nation (S.O.N) will vote yes or no to if they want a Deep Geological Repository (DGR) on their territory in a ratification vote.
If the SON membership says no, the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) says DGR will not be built on their traditional territory.
Organizer of Saugeen Ojibway Grassroots March against the DGR, Kim George says she is one of many who are against the DGR on SON land.
“I will be voting no,” says George. “I don't agree with having a DGR put into the ground. I feel it is unsafe, that eventually it will leak.”
The proposed DGR would be built 680 metres below ground under multiple layers of low permeability rock.
She says SON members have been told that if a potential leak would occur, rock would protect the land and water.
“All rocks shift and to me it feels totally unsafe.”
George has placed a sign in front of her home which says “No Nuke Dump” and says the peaceful March will be held at the Aaron Roote Memorial Youth Centre (6433 – Hwy 21) from 4 pm until dusk.
“We just want people and our fellow band members to know that there are 'no' voters.”
In 2013, Ontario Power Generation made a commitment to not build its proposed DGR for low-and intermediate-level nuclear waste without the support of First Nations Communities.
If SON members vote yes to the project they would then begin negotiating an agreement with OPG.
Benefits from the agreement would include: jobs, funds, training, involvement in future decisions about the DGR and Stewardship Rights.
Many meetings hosted by OPG have taken place to inform the SON Membership, however, George believes they could have done a better job.
“I think they could have a done better job with trying to reach the youth”, says George, adding, “I think they feel left out.”
Fred Kuntz Senior Manager, Corporate Relations and Projects for OPG says 22 Community Engagement sessions were held for SON members, from February through November 2019, to answer questions on the DGR.
Many were held in the two communities of Nawash and Saugeen, while others were held for members who live in Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Barrie, Ottawa and Owen Sound.
In a e-mail Kuntz says, “all of OPG's 22 sessions were open to SON members of all ages – the doors were open to elders and youth included. People of all ages attended, engaged, asked questions. In addition, OPG provided many opportunities for tours of the DGR site and DGR exhibit, over recent years – quite a few were joined by youth participants.”
On Friday two ratification voting centres will be open from 9-8 pm.
One held in Saugeen First Nation at the James Mason Memorial Culture and Recreation Centre and another at Cape Croker Community Centre in Neyaashiinigmiing.
