South Bruce council has approved a hosting agreement between the Municipality and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
The 132-page document not only outlines what happens if South Bruce decides it is a willing host and is selected as the site for the NWMO's deep geological repository that will store Canada's nuclear waste; it also maps out how to exit the process.
South Bruce Mayor Mark Goetz says the agreement was guided by community feedback collected over the last decade.
"The whole thing was based off the 36 guiding principles and that was all through community consultation... it was a group of community members that came forward and directed us 'this is what we want to see in that agreement for this development to be put here in South Bruce.' We used that as a pattern to get to our end result."
The guiding principles address everything from safety concerns and environmental impact to economic benefits and community involvement.
Lise Morton, Vice President of Site Selection at the NWMO, says the agreement is comprehensive, but reiterated that it doesn't signal a decision.
"I think the Municipality did a very good job a couple years ago, establishing 36 principles that we really needed to strive towards meeting in the agreement. I think we've done a good job collectively to make sure that we address every one of those principles," she said. "But I think what's most important for people to understand as well is that this is still just the beginning. Obviously the community still needs to make a decision and in each of the siting areas, but in this one in particular, we still need a decision as well from Saugeen Ojibway Nation. And then if we select this area, that's sill just the beginning."
Ignace, the other candidate to host the project, wrapped up it's community vote on Tuesday, but results have not been announced.
If South Bruce is determined as the host, the next steps include a review by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The NWMO would also set about establishing the Centre of Expertise in the Municipality.
The agreement also outlines what happens if South Bruce determines it's not willing to host the project, or if it's willing but not selected. (Both result in an exit payment, the former a $4 million lump sum, the latter $8 million.)
Mayor Goetz encourages residents to read the agreement, so they can make an informed decision in this fall's vote.
"That was the whole purpose of the hosting agreement and that's the purpose of putting it out there now, approximately 180 days before the referendum vote, because it's the keys piece of information for the public to be able to base their opinions whether they want this development in South Bruce or not," he said.
You can find the agreement on the municipality's website. Hard copies will be made available at the Municipal office and local libraries.
There will also be a forum in Mildmay on May 15 to discuss the Housing Agreement further.