The Push for Fairness in Canada’s Nuclear Waste Site Selection
As the plan to bury Canada’s used nuclear fuel in Northwestern Ontario moves into a critical regulatory phase, a growing chorus of voices is asking a fundamental question: Who has the right to say “yes” for a whole region?
While the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has focused its “willingness” process on the Township of Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON), nearby residents in unorganized townships—specifically those in the Melgund area—argue they have been sidelined and excluded. A recent legal submission by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) on behalf of We The Nuclear Free North, dated April 2, 2026, highlights these concerns, suggesting the current process may be overstepping its bounds.
The “Proxy” Problem: Ignace vs. Its Neighbours
The proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) is located at the Revell site. While the Township of Ignace is one of the closest incorporated municipalieis, the residents and The Local Services Board of Melgund (which includes the small communities of Dyment and Borups Corners) has pointed out a glaring geographical reality: their residents are actually closer to the site than those in Ignace or WLON.
Despite this proximity, the NWMO has largely treated Ignace as the primary community “proxy.” CELA’s submission argues that this approach is insufficient. One municipality cannot legally or ethically “host” a project on behalf of neighbors who will feel the most direct impacts but have no say in the negotiations.
Key Concerns Raised by CELA
In their letter to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada on behalf of We The Nuclear Free North, CELA lawyers Jacqueline Wilson and Richard Lindgren outlined several critical gaps in how the project is being handled:
1. Meaningful Participation, Not Just “Input”
CELA notes that the NWMO has failed to include serious issues raised by the public in its recent reports. For the residents of Melgund, participation isn’t just about attending a meeting; it’s about “Co-Design.” This means being involved in the governance and implementation of the studies that will determine the fate, as the most impacted by the project, rather than just being told what the results are.
2. Impact is Not Limited by Boundaries
The CELA submission makes a powerful case that the residents of the Revell and Melgund areas are not just “neighbours” to the project—they are the primary receptors of its impacts. Because they reside in an unorganized township, their unique needs have often been overshadowed by the formal municipal structure of Ignace.
To correct this, the Melgund community has issued a specific set of demands to the Impact Assessment Agency, insisting that their participation be formalized and protected.
3. Protecting the “Forestry Land Base” and Northern Lifestyle
A central pillar of the Melgund argument is the designation of the Forestry Land Base as a formal Valued Component in the impact assessment. In regulatory terms, a “Valued Component” is a specific element of the environment or community that must be studied for potential damage.
For Melgund, the forest is the foundation of their way of life. They are calling for a rigorous assessment of how withdrawing land for the repository and its “exclusion zones” will harm:
- Recreational Access: For many in the North, the forest is a primary source of well-being. Residents are concerned that industrializing this land will permanently block access to the trails, waterways, and backcountry used for motorized and non-motorized recreation, subsistence and recreational harvesting, and land-based recreation.
- Local Food Systems and Subsistence: The forest provides a “natural grocery store.” The community is demanding a study on how the project affects their ability to rely on the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering—activities that are essential for local food security.
- Quiet Enjoyment: The shift from a peaceful environment to a massive, multi-decade construction site brings fears of noise, light pollution, and industrial traffic that would shatter the “quiet enjoyment” that draws people to live in the Melgund area, many of whom have lived here for generations.
Beyond Participation: The Demand for “Community Co-Design”
Community members are explicitly rejecting the idea that they should simply “react” to plans forced on them by the NWMO and Ignace. Instead, they are requesting a Community-Specific Community Co-Design Framework. This would move them from the sidelines into a position of governance, allowing them to help shape the project’s implementation from the ground up.
To ensure this isn’t just a paper agreement, Melgund is calling for a suite of binding protections, including:
- A Community-Specific Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact Study: A dedicated deep-dive into how their specific community (as the closest and most impacted)—not just the wider region—will be changed by the repository.
- A Traffic and Noise Mitigation Agreement: Enforceable rules to manage the decades of heavy machinery and waste transport that will occur at their doorstep.
- A Binding Socio-Economic Betterment Plan and Protection Fund: Financial and legal guarantees that the community will be compensated for lost property values and provided with the resources to protect their local services.
4. The Question of “Willingness”
The NWMO often uses the phrase “willing and informed hosts.” However, the CELA submission points out that there is widespread opposition that is being systematically ignored. In focusing on a “willingness” agreement with Ignace—which has received millions of dollars in funding from the proponent—the process ignores the lack of consent from the people living right next door to the actual repository and who face the most severe impacts.
Because Melgund is an “unorganized” township (meaning it doesn’t have a full municipal government), residents feel they are being treated as a “peripheral regional subset” rather than a primary party to the project. They ask, what right does a community like Ignace have to impose their will on other communities without meaningful consultation and engagement?
As some residents in Melgund put it, “We have never once seen any representatives from Ignace ever visit our community.”
The “Project Splitting” Warning
A major point of contention in the CELA submission is transportation. The NWMO has argued that the transportation of nuclear waste shouldn’t be part of the main impact assessment because it uses existing roads.
CELA and groups like “We the Nuclear Free North” strongly disagree. They argue that excluding transportation is “project splitting”—breaking a large project into smaller pieces to make the environmental impact seem less significant. For communities between the Manitoba border and Thunder Bay, the risk of accidents on Highway 17 is a primary concern that cannot be separated from the repository itself.
Moving Forward: The Demand for Equity
The CELA submission makes it clear: being a “municipality” should not be a prerequisite for having a seat at the table. If a community is in the line of impact, it must be part of the decision-making process.
For the residents of the Melgund area, the demand is simple: Community Co-Design. They are asking for their own socio-economic studies, their own protection funds, and a recognition that Ignace and WLON do not speak for the entire North and it is morally and ethically improper for them to do so.
As the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada reviews submissions, the pressure is on to ensure that “willingness” is not just bought or borrowed, but truly earned from everyone in the impact zone.
Make Your Voice Heard: Open House at Dyment Recreation Hall
The window for public input is open, and for the residents of Melgund, Dyment, and Borups Corners, this is a critical moment to move from the sidelines to the center of the discussion.
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) are holding an information session to discuss the draft guidelines that will govern the repository’s assessment.
Event Details:
- What: Nuclear Waste Impact Assessment Open House
- When: April 22, 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Where: Dyment Recreation Hall
- More Info: melgundrecreation.ca
Why Attend?
This session is designed to help those impacted by the NWMO to understand the Integrated Impact Assessment process and, more importantly, how to provide feedback and input for the Draft Integrated Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines and Draft Public Participation Plan.
Don’t let the future of the Revell site and the Northwestern Ontario region be decided without the direct participation of the people who live closest to it. Attend the open house on April 22 and ensure the North is represented by the North.
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