OCI Letter to Minister Lunn on NWMO

January 15, 2007

 

Subject: Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) Final Report

 

Dear Minister Lunn,

 

The Organization of CANDU Industries represents 86 private sector companies and associations that supply goods and services to Canada’s significant nuclear program. Our membership includes many large (SNC Lavalin Nuclear), medium (GE Canada) and small (Imaging and Sensing Technologies) enterprises located across Canada.

 

The NWMO submitted its final report (“Choosing a Way Forward”) for the long- term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel to your ministry in November 2005. Two key conclusions of this report were:

 

- That most Canadians recognize that the current generation, i.e. the people who have enjoyed the benefits of nuclear power, has an obligation to look after its own "waste" and believe it is ethically wrong to leave this "burden" to future generations.

 

- That we presently have methods that are technical credible and would lead to the safe disposition of nuclear materials in the long-term.

 

The Adaptive Phased Management concept, that the report proposes, optimises the benefits of the available technical approaches to deliver a way forward that is safe and secure to all Canadians. I am pleased to say that OCI contributed to this report and that we are fully supportive of the report’s recommendations.

 

The world wide nuclear industry is undergoing a renaissance as it is increasingly recognised as the way to generate power that has the minimum impact on global warming. Canadian industry could be at the forefront of this renaissance if the reactor projects being discussed proceed expeditiously. Polling⁽¹⁾ by an independent research organization shows that in Ontario support for building new reactors (62%) and refurbishment projects (73%) to meet our energy needs continues to grow. If the recommended solution is not underway, future support for these projects may decline.

Minister, on behalf of our 86 members, we would like to know when your government will make a decision on this very important matter?

 

Thank you for taking time to read our letter and we look forward to your response.

 

Sincerely,

 

Original signed by

_____________

 

Martyn R. Wash

President

 

 

Cc: Honorable S. Harper, Prime Minister

      Honorable J. Baird, Minister of the Environment

      Honorable Jim Flaherty

      Mr. P. Brown, Director, Uranium & Radioactive Waste Division, NRCan

      Ms. C. Doyle, Deputy Minister, NRCan

     Mr. H. E. Brown, Assistant Deputy Minister, NRCan

      Mr. Wallace, Director General, NRCan

 

 

(1) Ipsos July 2006