Kebaowek did not wait until after Quebec. The Anishinaabe community will challenge in court the green light given at the start of the year to the Chalk River nuclear dump project, on the Quebec-Ontario border, whether or not it benefits from the support of François Legault’s government.
“Quebecers must understand that our health and our drinking water are at risk for the next 10,000 years,” insisted the leader of the indigenous community, Lance Haymond, in an interview with The duty Thursday, a day after filing a legal appeal in Federal Court aimed at overturning a decision made earlier this year by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). This grants Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) the necessary authorization to erect “a near-surface waste management facility” in Deep River, Ontario, very close to the Ottawa River.
Mr. Haymond had just met with Quebec Ministers Benoit Charette — Environment — and Ian Lafrenière — Relations with First Nations and Inuit — to tell them of his desire for the Quebec government to join the group of opponents of Chalk River. The project is contested by more than 100 municipalities, including Montreal and Gatineau, because of its potential risks to the environment and water quality in and around the Ottawa River.
Despite its official meeting with Lance Haymond, the Quebec government is still careful not to take a position. In particular, he intends to speak with the federal government before doing so. “We are following the matter closely to ensure the preservation of wildlife and the water quality of the Ottawa River,” Minister Charette’s office assured in writing on Friday.
At the beginning of the year, Québec solidaire urged him to campaign against the possible nuclear installation, which, according to the CNSC decision, “is designed[e] so as to protect human health and the environment. “The opposition to the Chalk River nuclear dump project is too important for the current silence of François Legault,” said solidarity MP Sol Zanetti.
Lance Haymond says he took advantage of his meeting with Quebec this week to remind people that “this project has significant impacts, and not just for Kebaowek.”
“I believe we have presented a strong argument. We hope that Quebec will take the time to better analyze this issue to arrive at a decision in support of our work. It could also help us speak with federal counterparts,” said Mr. Haymond.
Biodiversity threatened?
The community of Kebaowek claims to have detected black bears, eastern wolves, as well as several species of bats, turtles and birds in the area surrounding LNC facilities. The cities of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, for their part, fear the “possible environmental damage” of the project.
In its appeal filed Wednesday, the community of Kebaowek is turning to the courts to overturn the CNSC’s decision regarding Chalk River. According to the document filed with the Federal Court, the commission failed in its duty to consult by not obtaining “the prior, free and informed consent” of the Kebaowek community.
“ [La commission] did not take into consideration the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” summarized Chief Haymond in an interview.
The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador supports the efforts of the Kebaowek community in this matter.
Contacted by The duty, the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories indicated that they would analyze the appeal “before determining the next steps”. “We will continue to ensure the safe management [des déchets]now and in the long term,” LNC’s company communications team wrote to us.