OPG

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) & SON

SON Leadership and the Environment Office has re-engaged with OPG, committed to a resolution for Legacy Issues. “Legacy issues” covers the historical and ongoing impacts of the nuclear industry on the SON Territory, including the lands, waters, air, animals, and on the SON People. The impacts include SON Members’ health and wellbeing, economy, cultural and spiritual connection to the land, and right to make decisions to protect lands and waters for future Generations. SON Leadership and OPG are working to have a resolution for the community in the near future, as many feel that the Nation’s need to have a resolution of the past, before we can make decisions on any new projects in the future.

Commitments from OPG

We have worked hard to have the nuclear industry and government recognize our rights. In 2013, Ontario Power Generation committed to the SON that it would not build the DGR without our consent. This commitment culminated in the January 2020 vote on the proposed DGR, where the SON membership voted against OPG's proposed Deep Geologic Repository at the Bruce site. OPG has now withdrawn their proposed DGR and site from consideration.

OPG also committed to address legacy issues: the historical impacts of nuclear power generation on our Communities and our Territory. The commitments made are a significant victory for our nation.

Mandate

To address the deep and long-standing concerns regarding nuclear power generation in Anishnaabekiing, consult with the community regarding the proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for the low- and intermediate-level waste at the Bruce site and work to address legacy issues.

Anishnaabekiing, Anishnaabe Inwewin, Anishnaabe Naaknigewin – Our Territory, Our Voice, Our Decisions

SON stewardship and nuclear issues community process has begun! Anishnaabekiing, Anishnaabe Inwewin, Anishnaabe Naaknigewin – Our Territory, Our Voice, Our Decisions is about informing, discussing, and gathering input from everyone, as well as developing solutions and making decisions to address the nuclear waste and legacy issues.

SON Joint Council has always said we must determine our own role and future within our Territory. When it comes to the nuclear waste problem, this especially true. Our exclusion from decisions on major projects within our Territory has had serious implications for our Communities and our way of life.

Major nuclear projects in the Territory - such as those at Douglas Point and the Bruce site - have impacted us and will continue to have an impact on us for many more years to come. We are not expecting to solve the problem, but we have an opportunity to try and improve the situation for our People and our future in our Territory.

Legacy Issues

Legacy issues involve the current and long-standing impacts that nuclear power production and the ongoing operations of Bruce Power have on our People and Territory.

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation was never consulted when the nuclear generating station was built in our Territory. Over the past fifty years, nuclear power generation in Anishnaabekiing has had many impacts on our Communities, and our Land and Waters, including the production and accumulation of nuclear waste. For decades now, the SON Joint Chiefs and Councils have been in discussion with the nuclear industry and governments regarding these concerns.