Dear Editor,
Re: “Province opposes waste storage for now” (Jan. 21)
Remember the story of the wolf in sheep’s clothing?
People should beware the deception in the Saskatchewan government’s latest message of “opposition” to storage of nuclear waste, and persevere in pursuing their right to informed choice. Note Minister Jeremy Harrison’s use of language such as “at this point” in describing his government’s position.
In 2011, when the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) was still present in Pinehouse and English River First Nation, the Committee for Future Generations launched the 7,000 Generations Walk Against Nuclear Waste, 850 kilometres from Pinehouse to Regina.
The walk garnered over 12,000 signatures from more than 250 communities on a petition to legislate a ban on storage and transportation of nuclear waste in our province (in addition to 4,800 signatures on Clean Green Saskatchewan’s petition earlier that year) and drew extensive media coverage from across the province, nationwide and around the world.
In an attempt to save face, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall publicly stated the provincial government was not interested in storing nuclear waste, but added three little words at the end that made all the difference: “at this time.”
With that, Wall no doubt hoped to throw off the public. His government eventually pushed ahead with a nuclear agenda that included funding $5 million Sask Innovation dollars and $30 million Canadian dollars towards the Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation at the University of Saskatchewan, the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding with Hitachi-GE, which include research into small nuclear reactor design, and the inclusion of nuclear reactors in SaskPower’s options for energy production.
This agenda ignored the results of the walk and the Uranium Development Partnership hearings, where most (of the 2,600) Saskatchewan people who participated opposed a nuclear power plant in the province, a nuclear waste disposal facility or any expansion of the nuclear industry.
So do not be fooled. The Saskatchewan government is up to the same tricks now. Wall has a history of loyalty to the nuclear industry, as does his mentor and finance minister, Bill Boyd.
As awareness spreads of the hazards of nuclear waste, the opposition of the majority will strengthen. This includes the largest First Nation in the province, on whose traditional territory the nuclear waste would be buried: Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, which issued official legislation against the project in a band council resolution.
The petition to legislate a ban has reached almost 20,000 signatures. Resolutions against nuclear waste have been declared by the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Women’s Circle and the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
The most important point of all is that although public opinion may change, nuclear waste does not. It is a scientific fact, and the nuclear industry’s own documents state that nuclear waste will remain extremely hazardous and must be isolated from people and the environment, virtually forever.
“Opposed” or not, Brad Wall’s government must be held accountable from hereon in to commit, financially and otherwise, to the dissemination of balanced information to the citizens of this province on the nuclear waste issue.
NWMO is here to sell the idea, period. Tell Brad Wall that if he values our opinion, we all deserve to be supported in comprehensive education on the hazards, as well as the industry’s perspective. Only then will we truly be able to carry out our right to informed choice.
