Significant Neighbour

Concerned about Dryden becoming a neighbour to nuclear waste? It’s time to speak to council! Join us this Thursday evening. Speak to Council on November 25th. Email Council today.

Register HERE to join us Thursday, November 14th at 7 pm central

The City of Dryden is negotiating a “community benefit agreement” with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization. No one outside of council and a few city staff know what’s on the table, or what the timeline is for coming to a deal. But the residents of Dryden should have their say!

At the October 28th meeting of the City of Dryden council there was a “closed session” portion to the meeting and councilors received an “update” on the ongoing negotiations with the NWMO for a “Community Benefit Agreement”. Scroll down for more background and links.

What’s being negotiated on behalf of the people of Dryden?

This didn’t come out of nowhere. Way back in 2021, the City of Dryden established the Significant Neighbouring Community Partnership Working Group and passed Terms of Reference for the group. Dryden would have three representatives and the NWMO would have three representatives, and the workings of the group would be confidential.  It is most likely this group that is undertaking the negotiations for a “Community Benefit Agreement”, but because it is all cloaked in “confidentiality” we really don’t know.

What message do we want to deliver to council?

  • These discussions should be open and transparent; no secret deals with the NWMO
  • The residents of Dryden and area have a right to know what is in the deal before any deal is signed
  • The City of Dryden must not sell its silence or its support to the NWMO

Three things you can do today:

  • Sign up to join us in a zoom meeting to share information about the  community benefits agreement negotiations and strategies for response; the session will be Thursday, November 14th at 7 pm central; you can register HERE
  • Sign up to present to council on Monday, November 25th; you must register by noon on Monday, November 18th; the form to register for a deputation is HERE
  • Write or call your members of council and ask them about the “community benefits agreement” and share with them your concerns and ideas; contact information is HERE

BACKGROUND

  • Since 2010 the nuclear industry has been searching for a single location to which they would transport then process, bury and abandon all of Canada’s high-level nuclear waste.
  • Since 2020 the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s investigations have been focused on two remaining candidate sites: the Teeswater site in South Bruce in southwestern Ontario and the Revell site, between Ignace and Dryden in northwestern Ontario
  • The Revell site is 50 km east of the City of Dryden, at the headwaters of the Wabigoon River system
  • There will be radioactive releases to both air and water from the used fuel packaging plant; there will also be radioactive releases from the deep geological repository  
  • Dryden’s airshed and watershed could be impacted by the radioactive releases from both the used fuel packaging plant and the deep geological repository
  • In June 2024 the Township of Ignace signed a “hosting agreement” with the NWMO, agreeing to support the project even through major changes and to funnel its concerns in any future assessment process through the Nuclear Waste Management Organization

Council meets again on November 25th. Requests to make a delegation to council must be made by November 18th.

Key Links

Delegation Requests

Requests to speak to council must be submitted to the Clerk’s Department by noon (12 PM) on the Monday before the Council meeting that the delegation is being requested for.
https://forms.dryden.ca/Administration/Request-for-Council-Delegation-Form

Zoom invite for Thursday, November 14th

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcemprTksH9I8VVhVYqPXT34pbWyuwhLx
or use https://tinyurl.com/2p8vnt22. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Contact Council

Email addresses for Mayor and members of Council are at https://www.dryden.ca/en/city-services/mayor-and-council.aspx

City of Dryden establishment of  Significant Neighbouring Community Partnership Working Group by decision of Council on September 27, 2022, See Pages 37-43 HERE. Council minutes with decision on , see Page 10 HERE

City of Dryden’s “Learning about Nuclear”

Web page on the City of Dryden’s web site with information about (some of) the City of Dryden’s activities related to the NWMO project, including the establishment and then dissolution of the Dryden Nuclear Education and Engagement Committee (DNEEC) is HERE

City of Dryden Funding Agreements with the NWMO

January 2023 HERE

Nuclear Waste Burial in Northwestern Ontario

Read more about the NWMO’s project and public concerns about the transportation, processing, burial and abandonment of all of Canada’s high-level radioactive waste in a single location on the We the Nuclear Free North web site at www.wethenuclearfreenorth.ca