Many would expect Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall’s government to strongly favour the concept of nuclear waste storage near Creighton.
Wall’s “economy first” mantra has made him one of the most popular politicians in Canada. Saskatchewan, once the economic basket case of confederation, is booming.
Wall wants nothing more than to keep the good times rolling. A nuclear waste repository near Creighton, worth billions of dollars and reliant on hundreds upon hundreds of jobs, would certainly help serve that purpose.
But the province, leery of potential controversy, is not champing at the bit to see the repository. Far from it.
As innovation and trade minister Jeremy Harrison said last week, the province has “seen no overwhelming desire on the part of the public” for a repository.
If the project were to ever proceed, “very, very significant public support” would be necessary both locally and provincially, Harrison added.
“Very, very significant public support” for the repository does not appear to exist at the moment.
A University of Saskatchewan survey released in May 2014 found that 56 per cent of respondents in the province opposed nuclear waste storage in Saskatchewan.
In the Creighton area, repository opponents say they have found strong support with a petition campaign. Moreover, the repository concept lacks the requisite First Nations support.
Might the public in time warm up to nuclear waste? It’s certainly possible, especially considering the repository won’t open until 2035 at the earliest.
It’s also possible the opposition NDP, which opposes nuclear waste storage regardless of public opinion, will win the next election, or the election after that, and forcefully put its foot down on the idea.
Many people have applauded the Town of Creighton for learning more about nuclear waste storage as a way to diversify its limited economy.
Such acclaim is deserved, as there’s no harm in at least exploring new ideas, even if they are controversial.
But between the opinion-dependent opposition from the Wall government, and the complete opposition from the NDP and First Nations, the repository concept appears as doomed as ever – at least for now.
