by Lynn Jones
The site chosen for the giant above ground-nuclear waste dump upstream of Ottawa has been a point of contention since this saga began in 2015. First Nations, municipalities and many others object to the site because it is on unceded Algonquin land and very close to the Ottawa River.
But the site also happens to be an irreplaceable wildlife habitat and home for up to two dozen endangered species. The dump proponent, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), owned by a multinational private sector consortium, chose the site mainly to reduce hauling costs for the one million tons of waste it plans to put in the dump. After clearcutting the forest, CNL would blast the hillside with explosives to flatten it, turning 37 hectares of forest into half a million tons of rock rubble.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) granted CNL a permit to destroy endangered species and their residences in order to build the Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF). According to the Species at Risk Act, such permits should only be granted if the applicant considered all reasonable alternatives and adopted the best solution to reduce impacts on endangered species.
The ECCC permit decision was successfully challenged in Federal Court by Kebaowek First Nation and allies who believe that ECCC did not receive complete information about how the site was chosen and made errors in granting the permit. CNL appealed the lower court decision and the appeal hearing was held on November 12, 2025 in Ottawa, before a panel of three judges. A decision is expected in 3-6 months and will determine whether the permit gets sent back for redetermination by ECCC or not.
While the appeal hearing was taking place, a rally was held outside the courtroom on Sparks St, attended by about 50 people. See photos and videos on the Concerned Citizens Facebook page. Thanks to all CAFES members who watched the hearing or attended the rally.
Come to a talk on December 2 2025 to discuss radioactive waste on public roads through Ottawa. The talk will be held at the Ottawa public Library Main Branch from 4-6 pm. Speakers are Dr. Gordon Edwards, President of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and Ginette Charbonneau, Physicist, Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive.
