Who Decides if We Are Willing?
As we look out over the quiet landscape of Northwestern Ontario, many of us in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment are trying to make sense of the latest updates regarding the Revell Site. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) recently shared details about their federal mandate and the progress of the Deep Geological Repository project. While the paperwork moves forward in Ottawa, we are left wondering how these high-level decisions translate to the reality of living right next door to a proposed nuclear waste site.
What We Are Learning
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization explains that their path was set back in 2007 when the federal government chose their specific plan for managing used nuclear fuel. According to their documents, the site selection process is now considered ‘satisfied’ because they have received the ‘willingness’ of proximate communities. They also point to a 2024 parliamentary vote as proof of broad support for the Deep Geological Repository as the safest method for long-term waste management. Essentially, the NWMO suggests that the major decisions have been made, and they are now moving into detailed licensing and site characterization.
The Reality Check
What is being promised: The NWMO claims that the Impact Assessment process is built on a foundation of ‘social acceptability’ and that the ‘willingness’ of the community has been confirmed.
What we need to verify: The term ‘willingness’ remains vaguely defined. While the Township of Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation are often mentioned, the voices of those in the unorganized territories of Borups Corners and Dyment—who live less than 10 kilometers from the Revell Site—seem to be missing from the ‘willingness’ equation. Furthermore, the technical justification for this project relies heavily on a study from 2007; we need to know if those 17-year-old conclusions still hold up against today’s environmental standards.
The Path Forward
The report noted a significant gap in how ‘willingness’ is measured and verified, particularly for those of us in unorganized townships without a formal municipal council to speak for us. Therefore, we are calling for a comprehensive ‘Willingness Framework’ that clearly defines the metrics used to judge community support. We also see a gap in the evidence regarding how Traditional Knowledge has actually changed the project’s design. The solution must include specific, transparent examples of how local and Indigenous input has resulted in tangible changes to engineering or environmental monitoring. We need a ‘Gap Analysis’ that compares the 2007 mandate against 2024 standards to ensure this is still the safest path for Northwestern Ontario.
Why It Matters Here
This isn’t just about policy; it’s about our way of life. For those of us who value the silence of the bush, the safety of our local aquifers, and the ability to hunt and fish without the shadow of a Deep Geological Repository, the definition of ‘willingness’ is everything. If the Revell Site is expanded to include other types of radioactive waste, as recent federal strategies suggest, the impact on Melgund Township could be even greater than originally discussed. We deserve to know that our water and our safety are not being traded for a ‘satisfied’ milestone in a corporate report.
Have Your Say
This affects our future. Submit your feedback on this specific issue via our Engage page to ensure the Impact Assessment Agency hears from our community.
The Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) is reviewing the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) at the Revell Site, located near Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in Northwestern Ontario.
This major nuclear infrastructure project is undergoing a joint federal review by the IAAC and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to evaluate environmental, health, social, and Indigenous rights impacts over its projected 160-year lifecycle.
Public Feedback Open: Comments on the Initial Project Description are accepted until February 4, 2026. Submissions help shape the formal impact assessment guidelines.
This short article and summary is based on an initial analysis of a proponent’s initial project description. It does not represent, any community the NWMO or the Government of Canada. Learn more at the Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project project page.
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