CNA in support of the DGR

The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) submits this letter as an expression of support for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) and for advancing the project through a focused federal impact assessment. 

The CNA has over 115 members, representing more than 89,000 Canadians employed directly or indirectly in exploring and mining uranium, generating electricity, advancing nuclear medicine, and promoting Canada’s worldwide leadership in nuclear science and technology innovation.    

The proposed DGR is a safe, responsible, and long-term solution for Canada’s used nuclear fuel. The project reflects decades of site selection, scientific analysis, and sustained community engagement, and addresses a nationally significant challenge with clear intergenerational benefits. The DGR is a product of internationally recognized best practices that rely on multiple natural and engineered barriers, and passive safety principles. The Initial Project Description demonstrates technical expertise, transparent mitigation for uncertainty into the future, and alignment with regulatory expectations, providing a credible foundation for further assessment and licensing. 

The DGR is also an essential enabling infrastructure for Canada’s future energy system. As energy demand grows through electrification and industrial expansion, a permanent solution for used nuclear fuel is critical to maintaining reliable, low-carbon electricity generation and supporting national and provincial economic objectives. 

The Township of Ignace has demonstrated informed support for the DGR through a robust deliberative process spanning more than fifteen years. This longstanding engagement confirms Ignace as a willing and knowledgeable host community that recognizes the importance of safely managing used nuclear fuel. Additionally, NWMO’s ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities recognizes that meaningful collaboration and respect for Indigenous rights are essential to the project’s long-term success. 

The CNA also supports excluding transportation of used nuclear fuel from the project’s impact assessment scope. Canada already has a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the transport of dangerous goods, including nuclear materials. Each shipment requires an approved plan, trained operators, licensed carriers, security measures, tracking, and emergency response coordination. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversees packaging design and security requirements; and ensures compliance with radiation protection and emergency preparedness requirements. Transport Canada ensures compliance with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act that includes the regulation of the movement of radioactive materials on public roads and railways.  Further, the IAEA provides a regulatory framework that provides for international consistency and safety. Re-assessing transportation would be duplicative without providing additional safety benefit. 

In summary, advancing the project through a rigorous but appropriately scoped impact assessment is clearly in the public interest; hence, we urge the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to advance the project timeously.