February 12, 2018 – Local nuclear workers and pensioners, safety organizations and union leaders are looking to gather support for Bruce Power as it embarks upon its Licence Renewal application process with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).
The Bruce Power Pensioners Association, Canadian Nuclear Workers’ Council, the Grey Bruce Labour Council, North American Young Generation Nuclear (NA-YGN), the Power Workers’ Union, The Society of Energy Professionals, and the Bruce Chapter of Women in Nuclear-Canada have launched an online petition at www.supportbrucepower.com so people can show the level of confidence and support they have for Bruce Power, as it seeks a 10-year extension to its operating licence.
“Bruce Power has proven to be a safe and reliable provider of clean electricity,” said Doug Mullaly, President of the Bruce Power Pensioners Association. “We need to make sure the CNSC understands how vitally important a 10-year licence extension is to the local area and the province. Our goal for this petition is to give people a forum to demonstrate the faith and trust they have in Bruce Power to safely operate its units for the next 10 years.”
The community is invited to show their support for Bruce Power by signing the petition at www.supportbrucepower.com, sharing the petition on social media, and submitting their thoughts directly to the CNSC through its written ‘intervenor’ process, which can be found at http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/the-commission/intervention/. Public hearings will be held in Ottawa on March 14 and Kincardine, on May 30-31. Intervenors will be invited to speak in Kincardine during the May 30-31 hearings, and the public must declare its intention to give an oral presentation, and submit any written material, to the CNSC by April 16.
David Shier, National Director of the Canadian Nuclear Workers’ Council, said one of his organization’s mandates is to ensure the interests and perspectives of nuclear workers are heard by decision-makers.
“That’s why we have joined forces with these other important organizations to support Bruce Power in its Licence Renewal application,” Shier said. “We must make it clear to the nuclear regulator that Bruce Power has proven it is a responsible operator, and a 10-year licence extension should be granted.”
The Grey Bruce Labour Council, which is led by President Kevin Smith, is supporting Bruce Power through this petition because of the company’s never-ending focus on employee safety.
“Bruce Power truly lives its number one value of Safety First,” Smith said. “The Grey Bruce Labour Council shares this philosophy, and strives to educate workers – especially younger people new to the workforce – about the importance of safety. Bruce Power truly is a champion of a Safety First mindset.”
Krista Gill, Co-Chair of the Bruce Power chapter of NA-YGN with Sarah Foster, said the rejuvenation of the Bruce site has created thousands of jobs for young people in the area.
“Bruce Power has gained the confidence of its neighbours along the Lake Huron shoreline and across Ontario by living its number one value of Safety First,” Gill said. “Bruce Power offers in-demand opportunities for highly skilled people to be passionate and innovative while at work, while also allowing them to raise their family in a beautiful part of the province.”
Larry Alderdice, Chief Steward and Sector Representative for the Power Workers’ Union on the Bruce site, said it is important Bruce Power receive a 10-year licence, so it can continue with its Life-Extension Program, which will see the site operate to 2064.
“Bruce Power is there when the people of Ontario need it, supplying 30 per cent of the province’s power,” Alderdice said. “It also injects billions into the province’s economy annually, while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs – many of those unionized – across the province.”
Scott Travers, President of The Society of Energy Professionals, encourages his organization’s members to fully participate in the CNSC Licence Renewal process.
“We have long advocated that energy decisions should be driven by evidence-based discussions, and due to our members’ knowledge and understanding, they are in a unique position to add a lot of value to the discussion,” Travers said.
Tracy Primeau, Co-Chair of the Bruce Chapter of Women in Nuclear-Canada with Heather Convay, is asking its members and the community-at-large to support Bruce Power’s application.
“A decade’s worth of engineering, analysis, training, and planning has allowed Bruce Power to be in a position to safely operate its eight units for another 10 years,” Primeau said.
Learn more about the petition at www.supportbrucepower.com.
