Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
I, like other ordinary people, have a lot of questions about this initiative. I have here a copy of the resolutions against the shipping of nuclear waste passed by 61 municipalities, including Montreal and Quebec City, and by five Regional Municipalities. The Minister of Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs du Québec, Pierre Arcand, has criticized the way you operate. Do you not think that you have failed to provide people with sufficient information?
Bruce Power failed to inform people. It appears to me, that given the scale of the project, you were pretty cursory in your efforts. Minister Pierre Arcand pointed out to you in a letter that Quebeckers would feel the impact of any potential accident. To my mind, it is only natural that there be a public outcry. People are wondering why you authorized this shipment.
The public has always thought that waste should be dealt with where it is produced. Ontario chose nuclear power. It opted to operate nuclear power stations and, as a result, should dispose of its waste at home.
You contend that you are not setting a precedent. However, you are indeed creating a precedent in terms of the size of the generators. People are also concerned that other plants may be decommissioned and that the Saint Lawrence may become a nuclear waste highway. That would be quite simply unacceptable.
No matter your arguments about the small quantity of radioactive material and the low risk, the fact remains that there are dangers. People are worried. Why did you agree to conduct the assessment and authorize the project?
I really fail to understand. It seems to fly in the face of everything the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is supposed to stand for.