Will the DGR Strain Our Clinics?
Living here in Northwestern Ontario, we all know the drill: if you need a specialist, you are driving to Dryden, Sioux Lookout, or even Thunder Bay. But for day-to-day needs, residents in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment rely heavily on the services in Ignace and Dryden. With the proposed Revell Site Deep Geological Repository (DGR) potentially bringing a significant influx of workers to our region, the big question on our minds is simple: Can our local doctors and ambulances handle the extra load?
We took a close look at the latest Impact Assessment documents from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to see what they are saying about the health of our community.
What We Are Learning
The NWMO has released a baseline study of our current health care system. To their credit, they have correctly identified that the Mary Berglund Community Health Centre Hub (MBCHCH) in Ignace is the primary lifeline for many of us. Their report acknowledges that this facility is currently operating near capacity and physically does not have the space to add more services. They also cataloged the services available at the Dryden Regional Health Centre and noted significant regional gaps in mental health support, addiction treatment, and senior care. Essentially, the report confirms what we already know: our system is working hard, but it is stretched thin.
The Reality Check
While the description of our current services is accurate, we need to look at how the NWMO interprets this data regarding the DGR project.
- What is being promised: The NWMO states that their study of non-Indigenous health access is "sufficiently advanced" to understand the risks. They imply that they have enough information to move forward with the planning process.
- What we need to verify: The admission that the Ignace health hub is already at capacity is a major red flag. If the facility has no space to expand, how can it possibly accommodate hundreds of construction workers and operational staff? We need to verify if the project plans account for the fact that a "sufficient" baseline actually reveals an insufficient capacity for growth.
The Path Forward
To ensure our community remains safe and healthy, we need to close the gaps between the report’s observations and the project’s planning.
The Gap: The report notes that Ignace has only two ambulances and that the local clinic cannot physically expand. Yet, it does not currently model what happens to wait times or emergency response speeds when the population spikes during construction.
The Solution: We are calling for a quantitative Health Impact Assessment (HIA). The Nuclear Waste Management Organization must model specific scenarios—showing exactly how increased traffic and population will affect ambulance availability in Melgund Township and Dyment. Furthermore, the proponent should commit to providing self-sufficient, on-site primary and emergency medical services for their workers. This would ensure that DGR employees do not clog up the waiting rooms that local families rely on.
Why It Matters Here
This isn’t just about statistics; it is about peace of mind. For those of us in Borups Corners and surrounding areas, an ambulance coming from Ignace or Dryden is already a long wait. If those limited resources are tied up responding to an incident at the Revell Site, the safety of our families is directly impacted. Additionally, with the report highlighting a lack of mental health and addiction services, bringing a large transient workforce into the area without bolstering those supports could strain the social fabric of our tight-knit communities.
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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