The NWMO’s preliminary summary report on social cultural, economic, health and Indigenous peoples baseline studies in the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area is part of the NWMO’s ongoing research in the lead-up to selecting a site for a deep geological repository for the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. The NWMO would like feedback to ensure that the information is a realistic description of conditions in the area.

The report is an overview of three larger technical reports and describes the existing conditions of local and regional study areas based on extensive research. Working with communities and regional organizations, the NWMO collected data to give us insights into current social, cultural, economic and health conditions. This data will help determine the extent of the potential changes Canada’s plan could bring to the communities if the repository is located in northwestern Ontario.
 
“Ongoing community input is an essential part of our approach, and we encourage community members to review the report and share their comments,” said Charlene Easton, Manager, Socio-Economic Programs at the NWMO.

 The summary report provides a snapshot of baseline conditions, which are detailed in a 1,200-plus page technical report which would support a future regulatory process under the Impact Assessment Act.
Pillars of the study that are highlighted in the report include:

• Social: The natural beauty of the area and the easy access to land and resource use activities are the biggest draws for residents and visitors. As in other small remote communities, youth retention is difficult, as youth go away for post-secondary education and to look for employment opportunities.
• Economic: In general, incomes are higher and property values are lower in the local study area compared to northwestern Ontario, which contributes to affordability. In the smaller communities in the area, the cost of food is higher and there are fewer products and services to choose from compared to larger population centres.
• Health: Access to appropriate and continuous health services is affected by the rural and northern location of communities. The limited availability of physicians, combined with the limited availability of other health-related services, means that many residents end up travelling within or beyond the Northwestern Health Unit to have their primary, secondary and supplementary health care needs met.
• Indigenous peoples: It is important to note that the NWMO has separate processes for working with Indigenous communities that honour the governance of those communities. The summary report has not disaggregated data that is specific to Indigenous communities, and the report is considered preliminary. Indigenous engagement on the summary report has not yet been completed. We intend to work with communities to determine the preferred approach to undertaking studies related to Indigenous peoples.