Siting of Canadian repository gets support of tribal nation

Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) announced that Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation has indicated its willingness to support moving forward to the next phase of the site selection process to host a deep geological repository for Canada's spent nuclear fuel.

Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation is the second of the two communities in northwestern Ontario to indicate a willingness to move forward with the site selection process. In July 2024, the township of Ignace confirmed it was willing to move forward.

In the other potential siting region in southwestern Ontario, the municipality of South Bruce confirmed their willingness following an October 2024 municipal referendum. Saugeen Ojibway Nation (comprising Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and Saugeen First Nation) has yet to say whether it is willing to host a repository. Approval by the tribal nation is needed for the South Bruce site to move forward.

The two sites were chosen from 22 Canadian communities that initially expressed interest when the NWMO began its site selection process in 2010.

She said it: "We sincerely thank the members of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, Chief Wetelainen, and [the] council for their thoughtful approach and commitment to learning and engagement over the past 12 years," said Lise Morton, the NWMO's vice president of site selection.

Caveat: The NWMO said the decision by Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation does not indicate that the organization has selected a site for the repository, but that it will consider this new information as part of its ongoing site selection decision analysis.

Before selecting a site, the NWMO must be able to demonstrate that the site can safely contain and isolate Canada's spent fuel, and that the fuel can safely be transported to the repository.