Digging Into the Data: What the DGR Project Knows About Our Health
Living here in Northwestern Ontario, specifically around Melgund Township, Borups Corners, and Dyment, we know that our community is more than just statistics on a page. However, as the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) moves forward with the proposed Revell Site Deep Geological Repository (DGR), they have released a massive report detailing the current health and social conditions of our region. This Impact Assessment is supposed to paint a picture of who we are before any construction begins.
We took a close look at the numbers to understand what the project proponents think they know about our well-being, and more importantly, what they might be missing.
What We Are Learning
The report provides a snapshot of life in the Ignace area and the wider Northwestern Health Unit catchment. The data confirms what many of us already feel: we face unique challenges compared to the rest of Ontario. The report highlights that our region has higher rates of chronic diseases, including cancer and respiratory issues, and a lower average life expectancy (noted as 63.6 years for Ignace residents in one dataset). It also points out that 13% of homes in our district are in need of major repairs, and income levels are lower than the provincial average.
Essentially, the report acknowledges that our health and social infrastructure is already under strain.
The Reality Check
While the report offers a lot of data, there is a difference between what is being promised and what we need to verify.
- What is being promised: The NWMO states that the current baseline data is "sufficient and comprehensive" to assess risks for non-Indigenous peoples and that "no further work is planned" for characterizing general health outcomes.
- What we need to verify: The report admits that data for smaller communities (like ours) is often "suppressed" to protect privacy. While privacy is important, this means specific health clusters in Melgund Township or Dyment might be hidden inside regional averages. Furthermore, the report explicitly states there is no available baseline data on gender-based violence. How can we measure the safety impact of a large, temporary workforce if we don’t know where we stand today?
The Path Forward
To ensure our safety, we need to close the gaps between the report’s observations and the necessary solutions.
The Gap: The report notes significant health disparities and a lack of data on community safety (specifically gender-based violence), yet plans to stop further baseline work for the general population.
The Solution: We are calling for the establishment of a localized, longitudinal health monitoring program. We cannot rely on broad regional averages that smooth over local realities. The NWMO must prioritize collecting disaggregated data on community safety and gender-based violence before the project advances. We need a granular baseline now to distinguish between pre-existing conditions and impacts caused by the project later.
Why It Matters Here
This isn’t just paperwork; it’s about our daily lives. The Critical Observations in the assessment show that our housing stock is aging and many residents are on fixed incomes. If a large project brings an influx of workers, the demand for housing could spike costs, hurting those of us already struggling with repairs and bills. Additionally, if our emergency services are already handling high rates of injury and mental health crises, we need to be absolutely certain that a population boom won’t break the system we rely on for hunting accidents, road safety, and family care.
Have Your Say
This affects our future. We need to ensure the baseline accurately reflects the reality of living in Borups Corners, Dyment, and Melgund Township. 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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