Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks to all committee members.
On behalf of my colleagues at the Regroupement des municipalités du Québec pour un futur énergétique socialement responsable, I want to thank you for the invitation to come and testify before your committee today on Bruce Power's plan to import and export radioactive waste.
In our view, the current political situation should encourage Canadian and Quebec parliamentarians to take action to put an end to Bruce Power's plan to proceed with the import and export of its radioactive waste for metal recycling purposes. Here we will be outlining the reasons for our request.
Our organization includes some 300 municipalities that, by resolution, have expressed their intent to promote investment in energy conservation, energy efficiency, the modernization of demand management and, if necessary, the production of new forms of renewable energy within a decentralized perspective. As you will understand, all energy production-related issues are a concern for us and nuclear energy production is no exception.
With respect to nuclear energy and the issue currently under review by the committee, the absence of any integrated nuclear waste management policy in Quebec and Canada is a concern for the members of our organization. In the circumstances, any project involving the production, transportation, categorization and permanent or temporary management of radioactive waste produced in Canada encourages us to get involved.
As a result, Bruce Power's plan has led us to notify the some 185 municipalities in Quebec most likely to be on the land path of the radioactive waste concerned. To date, 125 of those municipalities have endorsed a resolution submitted by our organization to oppose Bruce Power's project and to challenge the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's decision to facilitate its implementation. Those 125 municipalities represent nearly half a million citizens.