Nuclear Waste Watch / Action déchets nucléaires est un réseau national d'organisations canadiennes préoccupées par les déchets radioactifs de haute activité et l'énergie nucléaire.
Nuclear Waste Watch / Action déchets nucléaires is a national network of Canadian organizations concerned about high level radioactive waste and nuclear power.
Nuclear Waste Watch / Action déchets nucléaires is a national network of Canadian organizations concerned about high level radioactive waste and nuclear power.
Nuclear Waste Transportation and Burial Plan Could be “Pre-Approved”
NUCLEAR WASTE ACTION ALERT! On June 24th three federal Ministers lined up to announce that it had referred three projects to the Major Project Office to consider the potential “listing” of the NWMO DGR under the Build Canada Act (aka Bill C-5). That’s a bit cryptic, but what it means is that these projects – if listed – would in essence be pre-approved. As the Minsters’ statement put it, this would mean “shifting Canada’s regulatory focus from ‘whether’ … to ‘how.”
Shockingly, one of these projects is the extremely controversial plan to transport, process, bury and abandon all of Canada’s high-level nuclear waste at the Revell site in northwestern Ontario. The project is the subject of broad opposition and is in the early stage of an impact assessment. It’s unprecedented – there are no other operating deep geological repositories for nuclear fuel waste anywhere in the world – and the plan is still largely conceptual, with many parts of the operation not yet designed. If ever there was a project that needs a rigorous review it is this one. The plan includes 2-3 trucks per day hauling the waste for thousands of kilometres and radioactive waste that will remain hazardous for one million years. Does this sound like a project that should be handed over to the rubber-stamp department?
The federal government is not inviting public comment. Take one minute to send your message today. Go to tinyurl.com/MessageMPs.
NUCLEAR WASTE ACTION ALERT! On June 24th three federal Ministers lined up to announce that it had referred three projects to the Major Project Office to consider the potential “listing” of the NWMO DGR under the Build Canada Act (aka Bill C-5). That’s a bit cryptic, but what it means is that these projects – if listed – would in essence be pre-approved. As the Minsters’ statement put it, this would mean “shifting Canada’s regulatory focus from ‘whether’ … to ‘how.”
Shockingly, one of these projects is the extremely controversial plan to transport, process, bury and abandon all of Canada’s high-level nuclear waste at the Revell site in northwestern Ontario. The project is the subject of broad opposition and is in the early stage of an impact assessment. It’s unprecedented – there are no other operating deep geological repositories for nuclear fuel waste anywhere in the world – and the plan is still largely conceptual, with many parts of the operation not yet designed. If ever there was a project that needs a rigorous review it is this one. The plan includes 2-3 trucks per day hauling the waste for thousands of kilometres and radioactive waste that will remain hazardous for one million years. Does this sound like a project that should be handed over to the rubber-stamp department?
The federal government is not inviting public comment. Take one minute to send your message today. Go to tinyurl.com/MessageMPs.
The Nuclear Fist: Five Federal Initiatives Pushing and Promoting Nuclear Power
There are currently five federal nuclear related initiatives / announcements: “Getting Major Projects Built in Canada - Discussion Paper on Proposed Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy Reforms” announced May 8th with the deadline now extended to July 22; the electricity strategy “Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy” which was announced May 14 with comment invited but no deadline; the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment electrification study with the deadline – and the study – now extended to mid-September; the Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada announced June 22 with no comment invited and so no deadline for comment, and the June 24 announcement of the potential “listing” of the NWMO DGR under the Build Canada Act (aka Bill C-5), also no public comment period.
There are currently five federal nuclear related initiatives / announcements: “Getting Major Projects Built in Canada - Discussion Paper on Proposed Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy Reforms” announced May 8th with the deadline now extended to July 22; the electricity strategy “Powering Canada Strong: A National Strategy for an Electrified Canadian Economy” which was announced May 14 with comment invited but no deadline; the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment electrification study with the deadline – and the study – now extended to mid-September; the Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada announced June 22 with no comment invited and so no deadline for comment, and the June 24 announcement of the potential “listing” of the NWMO DGR under the Build Canada Act (aka Bill C-5), also no public comment period.
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The federal government has unleashed a “discussion paper” outlining the next rush to dismantle what remains of environmental assessment. Top target: independent assessment of nuclear projects, which the paper proposes would be handed over to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The deadline for comment has been extended to July 22. It’s expected that new legislation will follow quickly. Read more HERE.
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COMMENT ON IMPACT STATEMENT GUIDELINES FOR NWMO'S NUCLEAR WASTE PROJECT BY MAY 10TH
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s massive project to transport and bury all of Canada’s high-level nuclear fuel waste in northwestern Ontario has moved to the next stage of a federal review with April 10th’s launch of a second 30-day comment period – this one on what information must be included in the multi-year review process and in the NWMO’s Impact Statement.
From April 10 to May 10 the Impact Assessment Agency is inviting comments from the public and Indigenous people on draft guidelines (there is also a summary version) and a public participation plan and Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan. The purpose of Guidelines is to set out what information the Nuclear Waste Management Organization must provide in their Impact Statement and supporting documents, which will form the basis of the impact assessment process and public hearing. Read more HERE.
From April 10 to May 10 the Impact Assessment Agency is inviting comments from the public and Indigenous people on draft guidelines (there is also a summary version) and a public participation plan and Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan. The purpose of Guidelines is to set out what information the Nuclear Waste Management Organization must provide in their Impact Statement and supporting documents, which will form the basis of the impact assessment process and public hearing. Read more HERE.
COMMENT ON IMPACT STATEMENT GUIDELINES FOR WESLEYVILLE NEW NUCLEAR PROJECT BY MAY 7TH
April 7, 2026 — The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission are inviting public comments by May 7, 2026 on the draft tailored impact statement guidelines and the draft public participation plan.
COMMENT PERIOD ON NEW MEGA-NUCLEAR FOR PORT HOPE ENDS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11
A federal review of Ontario Power Generation's proposed 10,000 MW nuclear generating station was launched on January 12th with the announcement of a 30 day comment period on the Initial Project Description, closing on February 11th. OPG has not identified the reactor design, excluded the required review of alternatives to the project and has not publicly released cost estimate for the Wesleyville plant. Read a briefing note HERE.
The Impact Assessment Agency web page about OPG's mega-nuclear project includes key documents and notices related to the review, as well as posting of public comments, including the summary of the Initial Project Description and a link to apply for Participant Funding. Comments can be submitted through the IAAC comment portal or by email sent to [email protected]. The comment period closes February 11.
A federal review of Ontario Power Generation's proposed 10,000 MW nuclear generating station was launched on January 12th with the announcement of a 30 day comment period on the Initial Project Description, closing on February 11th. OPG has not identified the reactor design, excluded the required review of alternatives to the project and has not publicly released cost estimate for the Wesleyville plant. Read a briefing note HERE.
The Impact Assessment Agency web page about OPG's mega-nuclear project includes key documents and notices related to the review, as well as posting of public comments, including the summary of the Initial Project Description and a link to apply for Participant Funding. Comments can be submitted through the IAAC comment portal or by email sent to [email protected]. The comment period closes February 11.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT LAUNCHED OF NWMO'S NUCLEAR WASTE TRANSPORTATION AND BURIAL PROJECT
January 2026 - A federal review of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s nuclear waste transportation and burial project was launched on January 5th with a 30 day comment period on the Initial Project Description closing on February 4th. The NWMO has excluded transportation from its Initial Project Description, proposing that transportation issues not be part of the federal review. Read more HERE.
Important Links and Documents for Initial Project Description Review and Comment Period Closing Feb 4
The Impact Assessment Agency web page about the NWMO DGR project review includes key documents and notices related to the review, as well as posting of public comments. The current comment period is on the Initial project description, and there are two versions: the summary document is 92 pages long, and the full document including the Initial Project Description is 1,322 pages BUT only the first 262 pages of that document is the detailed (well, more detailed than the summary) version of the Initial Project Description. There is also a 10 page summary at the beginning of the full IPD. For context, read We the Nuclear Free North's January 6 E-Bulletin. View the following links on the Impact Assessment Agency's website: Summary IPD Full IPD Public Comments All Records
January 2026 - A federal review of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s nuclear waste transportation and burial project was launched on January 5th with a 30 day comment period on the Initial Project Description closing on February 4th. The NWMO has excluded transportation from its Initial Project Description, proposing that transportation issues not be part of the federal review. Read more HERE.
Important Links and Documents for Initial Project Description Review and Comment Period Closing Feb 4
The Impact Assessment Agency web page about the NWMO DGR project review includes key documents and notices related to the review, as well as posting of public comments. The current comment period is on the Initial project description, and there are two versions: the summary document is 92 pages long, and the full document including the Initial Project Description is 1,322 pages BUT only the first 262 pages of that document is the detailed (well, more detailed than the summary) version of the Initial Project Description. There is also a 10 page summary at the beginning of the full IPD. For context, read We the Nuclear Free North's January 6 E-Bulletin. View the following links on the Impact Assessment Agency's website: Summary IPD Full IPD Public Comments All Records
73 Organizations Send Open Letter to PM and Ministers Calling for Oversight of Nuclear Waste Projects
December 16 - 73 organizations representing a broad segment of Canadian society have sent a joint letter to the Prime Minister and federal ministers of Environment and Climate Change and Energy and Natural Resources calling for more federal oversight of the nuclear industry in general and of nuclear waste projects most immediately. A federal review of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's project to transport, process, bury and eventually abandon all of Canada's high-level nuclear fuel waste in the heart of Treaty 3 Territory in northwestern Ontario. The letter asks that the federal ministers provide direction that the review not commence until Eagle Lake First Nation's legal challenge of the site selection has been heard in court, and that the review be full, fair and comprehensive and include all project activities.
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In November 2020 Natural Resources Canada launched a review of Canada's Radioactive Waste Policy. Hundreds of Canadians and Canadian civil society organizations participated in a series of roundtable discussions with Natural Resources Canada and thousands submitted comments. In February 2022 Natural Resources Canada released a draft of their radioactive waste policy and thousands of comments were received by the April deadline. In April a national collaborative of public interest groups released "An Alternative Policy for Canada on Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning." Read more HERE In late 2022 Natural Resources Canada stated that the release of the final Radioactive Waste Policy would be delayed until 2023. The policy was released in April 2023. |
April 2023 - Civil Society Groups have Rejected Canada’s Radioactive Waste Policy, expressing profound disappointment in the federal government quietly released the radioactive waste policy. Nuclear Waste Watch's news release is HERE.
December 2022 - Nuclear Waste Watch has produced an analysis of radioactive waste reports released by the House of Commons Environment Committee and by the Office of the Auditor General in the fall of 2022. Read the analysis HERE
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About Nuclear Waste in Canada
Nuclear waste is generated at every stage of the nuclear fuel chain. Low-level radioactive wastes are generated during the mining, milling and refining of uranium, and in the fabrication of uranium fuel bundles for nuclear power production. Low, intermediate and high level radioactive wastes are generated through the production of electricity using nuclear reactors. "Intermediate" level radioactive waste is highly radioactive, but in Canada only the irradiated fuel - also called nuclear fuel waste - is called "high level" waste. There are currently proposals by the nuclear industry for deep geological repositories for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes and for high level nuclear fuel waste.
Nuclear Waste Watch's Position Statement summarizes our concerns and key issues, and our list of Participating Organizations tells you who we are.
Nuclear waste is generated at every stage of the nuclear fuel chain. Low-level radioactive wastes are generated during the mining, milling and refining of uranium, and in the fabrication of uranium fuel bundles for nuclear power production. Low, intermediate and high level radioactive wastes are generated through the production of electricity using nuclear reactors. "Intermediate" level radioactive waste is highly radioactive, but in Canada only the irradiated fuel - also called nuclear fuel waste - is called "high level" waste. There are currently proposals by the nuclear industry for deep geological repositories for low and intermediate level radioactive wastes and for high level nuclear fuel waste.
Nuclear Waste Watch's Position Statement summarizes our concerns and key issues, and our list of Participating Organizations tells you who we are.
