Development of the DGR project in northwestern Ontario is a dangerous experiment that I vehemently oppose. A serious flaw to the project description is that it does not include a mention of the long distance that the many daily and yearly truckloads of radioactive waste will be transported, along dangerous highways and through many communities.

I'm disheartened by the continual dishonesty in this process, and it's been painful to watch how the community of Ignace has been subjected to a decade-long effort of manipulation at the hands of the NWMO, massaging them to become "willing" while they carry out an aggressive and endlessly funded PR campaign, lavishing funds on small community projects and wowing school groups with field trips to Toronto etc.  while suggesting that the only other future for this town is to become a ghost town. Many in the town that I spoke to, are resigned and simply find relief  knowing that they'll no longer be around when this project takes shape. It is shameful how this community has been treated.

It's also shameful how our Minister of the Environment, avoids questions about radioactive waste during question period in the House of Commons when asked about Chalk River. There is this shameful silence and cover-up for the nuclear industry, even by our elected officials.

I hesitated to take part in this impact assessment as I have a deep distrust in the nuclear industry. I don't believe that its beyond the interests of the industry to use these comments as a resource to further shape how they will package their message and sell further nuclear expansion to the public. I have read social media posts by employees of the CNSC in which they discuss the value of creating a kinder, environmentally friendly image of nuclear energy by re-branding it as "new clear" energy, for example. We cannot feel comforted to trust the CNSC to be the neutral monitor of this industry on our behalf. There is ample evidence that the CNSC is are part of the industry and actively promotes it. 

Our short history with nuclear energy has provided us with horrible experiences and powerful lessons. We should never forget what the accidents have taught us, the very close link between nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, and we should never get comfortable with this most toxic of substances for all life forms. If we are lured into the false idea that we can safely bury radioactive waste, this will contribute to a greater acceptance to expand nuclear energy, contributing further to an ever-increasing exposure. This is a dangerous path.

Without a doubt, nuclear energy expansion is highly attractive for private profit. There is great private profit to be gained, but the costs will be beared by the public. This has been the well-documented trend with nuclear energy projects. Nuclear energy expansion paints a future where it becomes normalized for every houshold along the transportation route to be equiped with a geiger counter and where our children take iodine tablets preventatively, as children did in Finland when radioactive clouds came from Chernobyl.

For what are we incurring such a horrendous price?

Surely we can envision a better future. Stop the expansion of nuclear energy. Stop the DGR. Invest in the expansion of truly renewable energy sources.