September 18 – Notice of intent to Designate NWMO’s Nuclear Waste Transportation and Burial Project as a “Project of National Interest”
The federal government announced its next step to short-circuit the review of a contentious nuclear waste project on Friday, September 18th. Notice was posted in the Canada Gazette that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO’s) Deep Geological Repository (DGR) project for all of Canada’s nuclear fuel waste is proposed for designation as a “Project of National Interest” under the Building Canada Act . This designation would guarantee project approval and would circumvent the Impact Assessment process . The Notice also indicates a reduced scope of any project review, eliminating long-distance transportation and long-term safety from whatever evaluation the federal government might employ in developing their conditions for the approval.
Gazette I Notice of October 26 Comment Deadline | We the Nuclear Free North Media Release | We the Nuclear Free North action alert: Send a message to the feds!
Federal Review of NWMO’s nuclear waste transportation and burial project
The planning phase of the Impact Assessment of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s massive project to transport and bury all of Canada’s high-level nuclear fuel waste in northwestern Ontario was completed on July 3rd with the posting of the Notice of Commencement, along with the final guidelines and public participation plan. Details and documents related to the planning phase of the review are posted on Northwatch’s web site HERE and We the Nuclear Free North’s web site HERE.
Nuclear Waste Online – 2026 Webinar Series
Each year, this series explores important topics about nuclear waste in Canada with a focus on the generation, transportation and proposed burial of highly radioactive nuclear fuel waste. Recordings of the 2026 series are available HERE.
This work
Since Northwatch’s founding more than thirty-five years ago the work has been both constant and ever changing: defending northern Ontario from one waste dumping scheme after another, promoting safe energy and sound forest management practices, and supporting communities and grassroots groups as they challenge extreme energy projects and work for a healthy future. Northwatch’s focus is on regional issues in northeastern Ontario, working in collaboration with others who share a passion for the region.
This land
Northwatch is a regionally based organization, with our primary focus and membership being the six federal districts of Cochrane, Temiskaming, Nipissing, Sudbury, Manitoulin and Algoma, spanning the Lake Superior, Lake Huron, St. Lawrence and James Bay watersheds.
Since time immemorial, the region of northeastern Ontario has been the land of Indigenous peoples who continue to be resident and rights holders.
This planet
We are now more than half-way through the decade during which we had to make massive and unprecedented changes to limit the effects of a warming climate to even “moderate levels” according to the United Nation’s climate science body’s monumental report released in October 2018.
A report from Environment Canada released in April 2019 revealed that Canada is warming faster than the world average from human-caused climate change.
Other planet-wide concerns dominate headlines – islands of plastic, shrinking forests, disappearing species. Think globally, act locally. But act now.
Recent Publications and Reports
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency on the Draft Integrated Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for Nuclear Waste (proposed for the Revell site in Northwestern Ontario), May 2026 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency on the Draft Public Participation Plan for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for Nuclear Waste (proposed for the Revell site in Northwestern Ontario), May 2026 is HERE
Northwatch Preliminary Comments to the Impact Assessment Agency on the Draft Integrated Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for Nuclear Waste (proposed for the Revell site in Northwestern Ontario), May 2026 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency Reviewing the NWMO’s Consolidated Information on the Transportation of Used Fuel – Plain Language Summary for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for Nuclear Waste (proposed for the Revell site in Northwestern Ontario), April 2026 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency on the Initial Project Description for Ontario Power Generation‘s proposed Wesleyville New Nuclear Project, February 2026 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency on the Initial Project Description for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for Nuclear Waste (proposed for the Revell site in Northwestern Ontario), February 2026 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency on draft Integrated Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines for Bruce Power’s Bruce C Nuclear Project, July 2025 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency on draft Integrated Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines for the Peace River Nuclear Project, July 2025 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission on Ontario Power Generation’s application to renew Darlington NGS Operating License, May 2025 is HERE, Appendix 1 is HERE, Appendix 2 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Impact Assessment Agency on Energy Alberta’s Peace River Nuclear Project Initial Project Description, May 2025 is HERE
Northwatch submission to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission on Ontario Power Generation’s application to amend the Pickering Waste Management Facility license, May 2025 is HERE
Northwatch submission on Bill C-5, June 2025 is HERE
Northwatch Brief to the Standing Committee on the Interior regarding Bill 5, May 2025 is HERE
Letter to Premier, Minister of Energy and Mines and MPPs HERE
- Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, ERO # 025-0391, Northwatch Comments
- Proposed amendments to the Mining Act 1990, Electricity Act 1998, and Ontario Energy Board Act 1998, to protect Ontario’s Economy and Build a More Prosperous Ontario, ERO # 025-0409, Northwatch Comments
- Proposed interim changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 and a proposal for the Species Conservation Act, 2025, ERO # 025-0380, Northwatch Comments
- Addressing Changes to the Eagle’s Nest Mine Project (EA Exemption), ERO # 025-0396, Northwatch Comments
Northwatch written submission on Peace River Nuclear Project Initial Project Description, May 2025
Northwatch written submission on Ontario Power Generation’s application to renew power reactor operating licence for the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, May 2025, Appendix 1, Appendix 2
Northwatch written submission on Ontario Power Generation’s application to amend the waste facility operating licence for the Pickering Waste Management Facility, May 2025
Northwatch feedback on comments on the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s RegulatoryDocument-2.10.1, Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response, April 2025
Election 2025 Questions to the Candidates on Nuclear Waste & Northern Ontario are HERE
Northwatch written submission on the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s RegulatoryDocument-2.10.1, Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Response, January 2025
See more reports and publications HERE
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- Nuclear Waste Watch
- We the Nuclear Free North
- Stop Small Modular Reactors
- Transportation Options
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- Mining Impacts & Issues (Archive)
- The Forest Project (Archive)
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
Margaret mead
Northwatch has a dual mandate: environmental protection in northeastern Ontario, and supporting public participation in environmental decision-making.
About Us
Northwatch is an environmental non-government organization in Northeastern Ontario.
Get In Touch
- northwatch@northwatch.org
- (705) 497 0373
- Box 282, North Bay, ON P1B 8H2
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