Bruce County Council endorses Global Partnership for Nuclear Host Communities declaration
BRUCE COUNTY – Council has endorsed a declaration that creates a framework for communities engaging with the nuclear sector.
Claire Dodds, commissioner of community development, asked council to endorse the declaration of Global Partnership for Nuclear Communities as “a set of principles for engagement on nuclear energy sector projects. CANHC – Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities – of which Bruce County and a couple of our municipalities are members – have endorsed these principles.” She went on to say the principles are “certainly something to consider as we move toward providing input on a couple of potential projects … Bruce C and the possibility of … South Bruce being identified as the host community of NWMO’s DGR project.”
Dodds noted that the principles “talk broadly” about the importance of local communities, and the importance of these communities being involved in the projects with early dialogue, “certainly providing resources” for active participation in these projects, as well as welcoming projects that have a positive impact on the socioeconomic development of our entire region.
County Coun. Kenneth Craig (Kincardine) said his community had reviewed these principles and endorsed them. “They are a guide,” he said. “They are broad enough to use widely, but they also provide framework and a focus.” He went on to say that the framework allows both parties to “work in a language that is familiar to both of us” rather than “getting stuck” between “government-speak” and “business-speak.”
The guidelines, he said, are “broad enough, and understandable enough” to make it very clear that host communities are interested in the development of the nuclear industry.
Craig said he agreed with Dodds that there is an important partnership to be established, and this is a good place to start. He said he would be glad to put this in the form of a motion. The motion to endorse the principles was seconded by County Coun. Jay Kirkland (South Bruce Peninsula).
Deputy Warden Luke Charbonneau (Saugeen Shores) who chaired the June 6 meeting while Warden Chris Peabody (Brockton) attended a nuclear isotopes conference in Toronto, commented, “This is absolutely the right thing to do, for Bruce County to support these principles … we have lots of nuclear-related projects planned … engagement with municipalities like the County of Bruce is critical – early and often – to ensure their success.”
County Coun. Don Murray (Huron-Kinloss) cautioned against the county coming in and trying to take over these projects. He urged the county “to make sure we listen to the host community.”
Charbonneau agreed, saying it would be a matter of the county “commenting on the things we control, such as long-term care, county roads, and important pieces of infrastructure.”
Strategic initiatives grants awarded
The County of Bruce strategic initiatives grant report was presented to council on June 6.
A call for proposals was announced March 7, with the application deadline April 5. The county was looking for proposals that “expand the capacity of the community to address gaps in services and/or unmet needs of low-income residents.”
A total of $28,000 in grants was awarded for two proposals: Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force - $20,000, and The Meeting Place Tobermory - $8,000.
County council nominates Chris Peabody for AMO director position
Bruce County council has officially nominated Chris Peabody, for the position of director for the county caucus on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) board of directors (2024-2026). Peabody is currently the warden of Bruce County and mayor of Brockton.
Deputy Warden Luke Charbonneau (Saugeen Shores) commented, “We wish the warden good luck.”
Pauline Kerr, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Walkerton Herald Times
