Hosting Agreement

The Hosting Agreement between South Bruce and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)  maps out the road forward in the ongoing process to select a site to safely store Canada’s used nuclear fuel.

It lays out all of the obligations and commitments of the NWMO and South Bruce across all possible outcomes of the site selection process.

A summary of the agreement has been mailed to all residents and ratepayers and is available on our municipal website. Extra print copies are also available at the Municipal Office.

Does the signing of the Hosting Agreement mean South Bruce is hosting the NWMO Project?

No. The process is still underway to select a final site in a willing host community.

The NWMO intends to select its single, preferred site for the Project by the end of 2024.

What input did the community have on the Hosting Agreement?

The Hosting Agreement reflects a decade of public input. In particular, the agreement is based on 36 Guiding Principles established with community input in 2020. These principles speak to people’s concerns and expectations for the Project.

These 36 Guiding Principles fall into three core themes: safety for people and the environment, having an ongoing municipal voice and maintaining and benefitting community wellbeing. 

Why is an agreement being signed now, before the site has been selected? 

The agreement covers different outcomes of the site selection process. There are different terms if South Bruce is willing to host and is selected, if South Bruce is willing but not selected as the site, or if South Bruce is not willing to host and is no longer in the process.

Signing the agreement now ensures the community has as much solid information as possible as it considers willingness to host. The agreement, along with all of the independently reviewed studies, helps build a fuller picture of what the Project would mean for the community.

What happens next? 

The Municipality will hold a by-election (referendum) on October 28, 2024 for the community to vote on their willingness to host the Project.

The decision to hold a by-election (referendum) is based on broad public input on how to measure community willingness. The referendum will be held in accordance with Ontario’s Municipal Act. The public can contact the Clerk’s Department with further questions.

How will South Bruce help people understand the lengthy legal agreement?

To support an informed decision, South Bruce will provide many ways for voters to learn about the Hosting Agreement in the coming months. This includes:

• Mailing a summary of the agreement to all households.
• Posting the full Hosting Agreement online.
• Placing hard copies in local libraries and making copies available for pick up from the Municipal Office, or by mail.
• Accepting questions through the website, by email, or phone.
• Holding the South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Forum on May 15 so people can ask questions and listen to a panel presentation about the Hosting Agreement. Visit www.southbruce.ca/Forum
• Offering in-person Let's Talk DGR sessions on request for clubs, organizations, neighbours or families. 

What if South Bruce says no to hosting?

If South Bruce is not willing to host the Project, then the Municipality will cease to be in the site selection process. There are provisions in the Hosting Agreement which describe wind down compensation in this event.

What if the NWMO does not select the South Bruce site?

If South Bruce is willing, and the NWMO does not select the South Bruce site, then there will again be wind down compensation as described in the Hosting Agreement.