Nuclear waste disposal meetings 'don't go far enough'

A North Bay-based environmental group holds meetings in the northwest this week, to talk about nuclear waste disposal.

Six communities in the region are among the 15 under consideration for long-term storage by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.

Northwatch project co-ordinator Brennain Lloyd said the group will hold meetings in Nipigontodayand in Schreiber and White River on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

"Our objective is to be ... sharing information and networking across the different communities who are being studied by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, and creating an opportunity for people to have the conversation, Lloyd said.

Meanwhile, the NWMO has two open houses of its own planned for Nipigontoday andWednesday.

Lloyd said the NWMO's community consultations don't go far enough, however.

"Those [meetings] provide a certain opportunity for people to find out what [the NWMO's] message is, [but] it doesn't provide an opportunity for people to really have around-the-room discussions.

Community must be 'informed'

But NWMO regional communications manager Patrick Dolcetti said town hall-style debates don't always have the best results.

"We've found that meaningful dialogue occurs best when our specialists are able to have respectful conversations, one-on-one, with small groups, at events such as open houses, he said.

Dolcetti noted it is still early in a years-long site selection process, and communities under consideration can withdraw at any time.

"This project will not come to a community that does not demonstrate they want to be an informed and willing partner," he said.

Nipigon, Schreiber and White River are three of the communities under consideration in the northwest. The others are Ignace, Hornepayne and Manitouwadge.

The Northwatch meetings take place at 7 p.m. todayat the Nipigon Community Centre, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Schreiber Municipal Office and 7 p.m. Thursday at the Harmony Seniors' Centre in White River.

The NWMO open houses take place todayfrom 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Nipigon Legion.