MEDIA RELEASE
3 April 2023
3 April 2023
Civil Society Groups Reject Canada’s Radioactive Waste Policy
Ottawa – Civil society groups are expressing profound disappointment in the federal government’s recently released radioactive waste policy, after Natural Resources Canada quietly posted the final policy to a government website on Friday morning.
Organizations who were intensively engaged in the policy development process between November 2020 and May 2022 are calling the policy a handover to the nuclear industry and say it fails to meet international standards or the public’s expectations.
“It is a fundamental failure. It leaves the industry in charge and the public and the environment at risk. This policy is a betrayal of science and public trust," said Dr. Ole Hendrickson, for the Sierra Club Canada Foundation
“This final version of the radioactive waste policy sentences us to ten years of nuclear industry control. It is a complete fail on the highest priorities for a national radioactive waste policy – to establish a national registry of waste and its characteristics and its cross-border movement, to assert federal authority over radioactive waste management strategies, and to require the perpetual care of reactor fuel waste”, commented Brennain Lloyd, Project Coordinator for the Northern Ontario based coalition Northwatch.
The revised policy follows the International Atomic Energy Agency having conducted a peer review of Canada’s nuclear regulatory framework in 2019, and recommending that that Canada “enhance” its 3-bullet-point radioactive waste policy framework from 1996.
"The federal government's new radioactive waste policy is not protective of the public and the environment. It fails to even approach meeting the legitimate expectations of the public and civil society," said Theresa MacClenaghan, Executive Director and Senior Counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
The radioactive waste policy released on Friday was practically silent on the crucial issue of reprocessing, saying that while there is currently no reprocessing undertaken in Canada, if there should be reprocessing undertaken in the future the just-released policy would extend to address the wastes from reprocessing.
"Reprocessing - extracting plutonium from high level nuclear waste - is described as outside of the scope of the new policy. At the same time, the government is promoting two nuclear projects in New Brunswick that will use this controversial technology. "Abdicating responsibility is not only poor governance but also reckless and dangerous. The research is clear that reprocessing increases the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation, in addition to its environmental risks," said Susan O'Donnell, PhD, spokesperson for the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick.
Dr. Gordon Edwards, President of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, summarized concerns about the lack of oversight of the nuclear industry, which the organizations say will be perpetuated by the 2023 policy: "After a ten-year investigation, with public hearings in five provinces, a government-appointed panel unanimously recommended that Canada needs an independent agency for radioactive wastes management. That same need was recently communicated to Ottawa by dozens of public interest organizations across Canada. Without such an agency, the government’s policy is powerless to protect future generations from these persistent poisons."
Nuclear Waste Watch facilitated the engagement of more than a hundred organizations in the policy review process, convening a series of roundtable discussions with Natural Resources Canada, and bilingual national preparatory sessions for each of the Natural Resources Canada’s four discussion papers and the draft policy, and preparing and releasing an Alternative Policy in response to Natural Resouces’ draft policy, based on the input of the hundreds of participants.
Organizations who were intensively engaged in the policy development process between November 2020 and May 2022 are calling the policy a handover to the nuclear industry and say it fails to meet international standards or the public’s expectations.
“It is a fundamental failure. It leaves the industry in charge and the public and the environment at risk. This policy is a betrayal of science and public trust," said Dr. Ole Hendrickson, for the Sierra Club Canada Foundation
“This final version of the radioactive waste policy sentences us to ten years of nuclear industry control. It is a complete fail on the highest priorities for a national radioactive waste policy – to establish a national registry of waste and its characteristics and its cross-border movement, to assert federal authority over radioactive waste management strategies, and to require the perpetual care of reactor fuel waste”, commented Brennain Lloyd, Project Coordinator for the Northern Ontario based coalition Northwatch.
The revised policy follows the International Atomic Energy Agency having conducted a peer review of Canada’s nuclear regulatory framework in 2019, and recommending that that Canada “enhance” its 3-bullet-point radioactive waste policy framework from 1996.
"The federal government's new radioactive waste policy is not protective of the public and the environment. It fails to even approach meeting the legitimate expectations of the public and civil society," said Theresa MacClenaghan, Executive Director and Senior Counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
The radioactive waste policy released on Friday was practically silent on the crucial issue of reprocessing, saying that while there is currently no reprocessing undertaken in Canada, if there should be reprocessing undertaken in the future the just-released policy would extend to address the wastes from reprocessing.
"Reprocessing - extracting plutonium from high level nuclear waste - is described as outside of the scope of the new policy. At the same time, the government is promoting two nuclear projects in New Brunswick that will use this controversial technology. "Abdicating responsibility is not only poor governance but also reckless and dangerous. The research is clear that reprocessing increases the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation, in addition to its environmental risks," said Susan O'Donnell, PhD, spokesperson for the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick.
Dr. Gordon Edwards, President of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, summarized concerns about the lack of oversight of the nuclear industry, which the organizations say will be perpetuated by the 2023 policy: "After a ten-year investigation, with public hearings in five provinces, a government-appointed panel unanimously recommended that Canada needs an independent agency for radioactive wastes management. That same need was recently communicated to Ottawa by dozens of public interest organizations across Canada. Without such an agency, the government’s policy is powerless to protect future generations from these persistent poisons."
Nuclear Waste Watch facilitated the engagement of more than a hundred organizations in the policy review process, convening a series of roundtable discussions with Natural Resources Canada, and bilingual national preparatory sessions for each of the Natural Resources Canada’s four discussion papers and the draft policy, and preparing and releasing an Alternative Policy in response to Natural Resouces’ draft policy, based on the input of the hundreds of participants.
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For more information:
Gordon Edwards, PhD, President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility Phone: 514-489-5118 Email: [email protected]
Theresa MacClenaghan, Executive Director and Senior Counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association, Phone 416-960-2284 ext 7219
Ole Hendrickson, PhD, researcher, Sierra Canada Foundation, Phone: 613-735-4876 Email: [email protected]
Brennain Lloyd, spokesperson, Northwatch, Phone: 705-493-9650 Email: [email protected]
Susan O'Donnell, PhD, spokesperson, Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick Phone: 506-261-1727 Email: [email protected]
Ginette Charbonneau, porte-parole, Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive, (514) 246-6439, [email protected]
QUOTES
"After a ten-year investigation, with public hearings in five provinces, a government-appointed panel unanimously recommended that Canada needs an independent agency for radioactive wastes management. That same need was recently communicated to Ottawa by dozens of public interest organizations across Canada. Without such an agency, the government’s policy is powerless to protect future generations from these persistent poisons."
Gordon Edwards, PhD, President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility
"The federal government's new radioactive waste policy is not protective of the public and the environment. It fails to even approach meeting the legitimate expectations of the public and civil society."
Theresa MacClenaghan, Canadian Environmental Law Association
"This policy is a betrayal of science and public trust."
Ole Hendrickson, PhD, Sierra Club Canada Foundation
“This final version of the radioactive waste policy sentences us to ten years of nuclear industry control. It is a complete fail on the highest priorities for a national radioactive waste policy – to establish a national registry of waste and its characteristics and its cross-border movement, to assert federal authority over radioactive waste management strategies, and to require the perpetual care of reactor fuel waste.”
Brennain Lloyd, spokesperson, Northwatch
"Reprocessing - extracting plutonium from high level nuclear waste - is described as outside of the scope of the new policy. At the same time, the government is promoting two nuclear projects in New Brunswick that will use this controversial technology. "Abdicating responsibility is not only poor governance but also reckless and dangerous. The research is clear that reprocessing increases the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation, in addition to its environmental risks."
Susan O'Donnell, PhD, spokesperson, Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick
“Policy should explicitly prohibit the importing of radioactive waste from other countries. All the civil group recommended no importation of nuclear waste. It is unacceptable that under exceptional circumstances, radioactive sources that were not from Canada may be brought to Canada. It does not protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment.”
Ginette Charbonneau, porte-parole, Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
In response to a recommendation from the IAEA, the federal government announced in February 2020 that it would "modernize" Canada’s radioactive waste policy Natural Resources Canada launched the policy review on November 16, 2020.
Over 100 civil society participants and organizations joined a series of webinars in both official languages organized by Nuclear Waste Watch, participated in roundtable discussions with Natural Resources Canada, and provided hundreds of written submissions.
Key messages from civil society included:
Hundreds of Canadians commented on the draft policy and over 7,000 messages explicitly calleda ban on reprocessing to extract plutonium from fuel waste.
Public interest groups released "An Alternative Policy for Canada on Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning". The Alternative Policy mirrors in order and content the draft policy released by Natural Resources Canada but integrates important changes to bring the policy in line with fundamental principles of transparency, safety and the public good.
LINKS
Additional information about the nuclear waste policy review, visit the Nuclear Waste Watch web pages HERE.
The members of Nuclear Waste Watch Radioactive Waste Review Group who prepared An Alternative Policy for Canada on Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning are:
Review Timeline and Synopsis
One page review of draft policy (February 2022)
Policy for Radioactive Waste and Decommissioning (the Policy), March 2023
Gordon Edwards, PhD, President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility Phone: 514-489-5118 Email: [email protected]
Theresa MacClenaghan, Executive Director and Senior Counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association, Phone 416-960-2284 ext 7219
Ole Hendrickson, PhD, researcher, Sierra Canada Foundation, Phone: 613-735-4876 Email: [email protected]
Brennain Lloyd, spokesperson, Northwatch, Phone: 705-493-9650 Email: [email protected]
Susan O'Donnell, PhD, spokesperson, Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick Phone: 506-261-1727 Email: [email protected]
Ginette Charbonneau, porte-parole, Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive, (514) 246-6439, [email protected]
QUOTES
"After a ten-year investigation, with public hearings in five provinces, a government-appointed panel unanimously recommended that Canada needs an independent agency for radioactive wastes management. That same need was recently communicated to Ottawa by dozens of public interest organizations across Canada. Without such an agency, the government’s policy is powerless to protect future generations from these persistent poisons."
Gordon Edwards, PhD, President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility
"The federal government's new radioactive waste policy is not protective of the public and the environment. It fails to even approach meeting the legitimate expectations of the public and civil society."
Theresa MacClenaghan, Canadian Environmental Law Association
"This policy is a betrayal of science and public trust."
Ole Hendrickson, PhD, Sierra Club Canada Foundation
“This final version of the radioactive waste policy sentences us to ten years of nuclear industry control. It is a complete fail on the highest priorities for a national radioactive waste policy – to establish a national registry of waste and its characteristics and its cross-border movement, to assert federal authority over radioactive waste management strategies, and to require the perpetual care of reactor fuel waste.”
Brennain Lloyd, spokesperson, Northwatch
"Reprocessing - extracting plutonium from high level nuclear waste - is described as outside of the scope of the new policy. At the same time, the government is promoting two nuclear projects in New Brunswick that will use this controversial technology. "Abdicating responsibility is not only poor governance but also reckless and dangerous. The research is clear that reprocessing increases the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation, in addition to its environmental risks."
Susan O'Donnell, PhD, spokesperson, Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick
“Policy should explicitly prohibit the importing of radioactive waste from other countries. All the civil group recommended no importation of nuclear waste. It is unacceptable that under exceptional circumstances, radioactive sources that were not from Canada may be brought to Canada. It does not protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment.”
Ginette Charbonneau, porte-parole, Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
In response to a recommendation from the IAEA, the federal government announced in February 2020 that it would "modernize" Canada’s radioactive waste policy Natural Resources Canada launched the policy review on November 16, 2020.
Over 100 civil society participants and organizations joined a series of webinars in both official languages organized by Nuclear Waste Watch, participated in roundtable discussions with Natural Resources Canada, and provided hundreds of written submissions.
Key messages from civil society included:
- Canada needs an independent agency, arms-length from government and industry, to oversee radioactive waste management and decommissioning; the nuclear industry operated Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is NOT that agency.
- Radioactive waste should NOT be abandoned; policy should direct perpetual care and monitoring. Government and industry must be open and transparent in the management of radioactive waste and its transportation.
- Indigenous peoples and other Canadians have a right to access information, to engage in decision-making, and to know the risks.
- Policy should explicitly prohibit the importing of radioactive waste from other countries.
- Plutonium extraction (by reprocessing or pyro-processing) from radioactive fuel waste must be prohibited, due to environmental, security and proliferation concerns.
- Any proposed new facilities for storage, processing, or disposal of radioactive waste should undergo credible impact assessments.
Hundreds of Canadians commented on the draft policy and over 7,000 messages explicitly calleda ban on reprocessing to extract plutonium from fuel waste.
Public interest groups released "An Alternative Policy for Canada on Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning". The Alternative Policy mirrors in order and content the draft policy released by Natural Resources Canada but integrates important changes to bring the policy in line with fundamental principles of transparency, safety and the public good.
LINKS
Additional information about the nuclear waste policy review, visit the Nuclear Waste Watch web pages HERE.
The members of Nuclear Waste Watch Radioactive Waste Review Group who prepared An Alternative Policy for Canada on Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning are:
Review Timeline and Synopsis
One page review of draft policy (February 2022)
Policy for Radioactive Waste and Decommissioning (the Policy), March 2023
