LETTRE

Open Letter to Liberal MP (Pontiac) Will Amos

(copied to the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and other concerned Pontiac citizens)

 

Dear Will:

As you, (and many others), will already have read in my Our Environment columns (in the Pontiac Journal, West Quebec Post, and Aylmer Bulletin) on the subject of the proposal for a nuclear waste dump facility at Chalk River, I am opposed to the concept as currently outlined. In fact, you likely know that I cannot actually imagine being positive whatsoever about this particular location for a nuclear dump of any kind.

I am not alone in opposing the proposal for a Near Surface Nuclear Disposal Site within 1 km of the Ottawa River.

Read this Globe and Mail article, "Scientists decry plan for Ontario nuclear-waste site" published June 27, 2017. CBC has expressed concerns: "Proposed radioactive waste disposal site in Chalk River raises concerns", 10 April 2017. Meredith Brown, our Ottawa Riverkeeper, has also raised concerns. Most recently, CTV covered her opposition on August 18, 2017: "Ottawa Riverkeeper group announces opposition to proposed Chalk River nuclear waste disposal plan".

Also, I am in touch with the Old Fort William Cottagers' Association and specifically, Johanna Echlin. Johanna keeps me informed about this organization's activities and activism. Will, I am sure you know that this group has been extremely active in their opposition to CNL's proposal. And, they have been vocal about their concerns, as has Jim Coffey, of Esprit, very actively on his Facebook page.

Notably, Jim Coffey alerted his Facebook followers, on September 6, of the Municipality of Mansfield's opposition to the Near Surface Nuclear Disposal Site, when he wrote, "The municipality of Mansfield tonight took a bold stance and unanimously and overwhelmingly voted to pass a resolution denouncing the proposed Near Surface Nuclear Disposal Site just 1 km away from the Ottawa River near Chalk River, Ontario..."

In addition, former Pontiac representative Charlotte L'Écuyer (as you know, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for the riding of Pontiac) has also expressed her opposition and concerns about inadequate environmental studies regarding this site's location. (Check Charlotte's Facebook page where she expresses this opposition.)

Will? Because you represent Pontiac riding, you represent me -- and many of the people mentioned here. And as an MP, you also have a responsibility to the Canadian public at large.

I want you to understand that I don't want this nuclear dump next to the Ottawa River for reasons outlined in my columns, and for reasons outlined by the above sources.

Also, I would like to hear that you also oppose this project as proposed.

Will? Will you please add your voice and influence to the opposition of this project?

I welcome your reply.
Sincerely,

Katharine Fletcher
Journalist/freelance writer/environmental columnist, author, visual artist