Press release July 2010
News Release
July 20, 2010- Brad Maggrah, President of the Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People (OCAP), has voiced his strong objection to the plans of Bruce Power to ship 16 radioactive stream generators out of Owen Sound, Ontario. “We are highly concerned about the risk involved with the shipment of dangerous radioactive nuclear waste. Every decision taken by the Crown affecting or impacting Aboriginal peoples or our interests is a matter that is consistent with the duty to consult. We’ve heard nothing from the federal or provincial governments,“ said Maggrah.
The shipment of radioactive waste represents a risk to the safety of all Ontarians and Mother Earth. The potential emission of gamma radiation and radioactive contaminants is a serious concern for the environment. The sixteen hundred–tonne generators will be loaded on to trailers and driven from the Bruce Power reactor to Owen Sound. If this shipment is allowed to take place, the door will be opened for more shipments of nuclear waste.
The Bruce Power application is presently before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The federal regulator has the responsibility to issue a transport license but the transportation plan developed by Bruce Power will need to be deemed safe. The shipment of nuclear waste will be headed to Sweden, where the metal will be melted down for reuse and the remainder shipped back to Canada to be stored as nuclear waste.
“Most Aboriginal People in Ontario are not aware of this environmental hazard,” said Maggrah. OCAP has joined with Mayor Mike Bradley of Sarnia to petition the federal government concerning the risks involved with the shipment of radioactive nuclear waste.
OCAP represents the rights and interests of status and non-status Indians and Métis living in Ontario and is an affiliate member of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.
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For more Information:
Brad Maggrah
Ontario Coalition of Aboriginal People
(807) 938-1321
