Issues

Find our stances on the issues that matter to you.

Chalk River Nuclear Waste Disposal

One of the local issues that has concerned us greatly is the project to build a controversial radioactive waste dump near the Ottawa River, upstream from Ottawa and Montreal.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) wants to build an engineered mound or "near surface disposal facility" close to the company's nearly 80-year-old Chalk River site, about 190 kilometres northwest of Ottawa and about one km from the river. The facility would include containment cells, a base liner and cover, and a system to detect leaks, according to a project descripton.

It is expected to contain low-level radioactive waste including contaminated soil and building materials from decommissioned Chalk River activities, mops and protective clothing used during cleanup, and waste from sources such as hospitals and universities.

The Pontiac NDP is incredibly concerned with this project and we are constantly trying to bring awareness to the issue. It is imperative for nuclear waste to be disposed of safely.

Citizens' groups are asking the Federal Court to review the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) decision to give the green light for the construction of a nuclear waste disposal facility near the Ottawa River.