Digging Into the Dollars and Social Shifts
Here in Northwestern Ontario, we are used to weighing opportunity against cost. Whether it is forestry or mining, we know that big projects bring big changes. As we look at the proposed Revell Site for the Deep Geological Repository (DGR), the conversation is shifting from rock formations to our wallets and our way of life. For residents in Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, understanding the Impact Assessment regarding our local economy and social services is vital before any shovels hit the ground.
What We Are Learning
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has released its preliminary findings on how the project will affect non-Indigenous economic and social conditions. In short, the report paints a very bright picture. They anticipate that the project will bring significant employment, contracting opportunities, and tax revenue. In fact, they view the economic changes as so overwhelmingly positive that they did not perform a risk screening for potential economic downsides.
On the social side—thinking about things like housing, traffic, and community safety—the NWMO acknowledges there will be pressures, particularly from the worker accommodation camp. However, they classify these risks as “low,” suggesting that standard industry rules and future reporting requirements will handle any issues that arise.
The Reality Check
While we welcome the prospect of jobs, we need to ensure the full picture is being painted. Here is a breakdown of what is being promised versus what we need to verify:
- The Claim: Economic impacts are “primarily positive,” so no risk assessment is needed for the economy.
- The Evidence Needed: We need to verify the “hidden costs” of a boom. We need data on potential local inflation, housing market spikes, and the cost of living for seniors on fixed incomes.
- The Claim: Social risks (like strain on emergency services) are low because of “industry best practices.”
- The Evidence Needed: We need site-specific data. General industry rules are fine, but we need to know if our specific local clinics and volunteer fire departments can handle the influx.
The Path Forward
To ensure our communities are protected, we need to close the gaps in this report.
The Gap: The report noted that the NWMO declined to perform a risk screening for economic conditions because they anticipate only positive effects. This ignores the risk of “pricing out” locals.
The Solution: We are calling for a formal risk assessment of these “positive” economic shocks. We need a granular breakdown of how the project might drive up the cost of housing and goods in Melgund Township and surrounding areas, ensuring that long-term residents aren’t left behind by a sudden economic boom.
The Gap: The assessment relies heavily on findings from the OPG DGR (a different project for different waste) to justify a “low risk” rating here.
The Solution: We require quantitative modeling based on used nuclear fuel management at the Revell Site specifically. We cannot rely on data from unrelated projects to predict our social safety.
Why It Matters Here
This isn’t just about spreadsheets; it is about our daily lives. If the Deep Geological Repository drives up housing costs, will young families in Dyment be able to afford to stay? If the worker camp relies on the same emergency services as Borups Corners, will an ambulance be available when you need it? We need to ensure that the “boom” doesn’t become a burden for the people who already call this place home.
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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