nuclear-news

Essex MPP demands more government support for towns near U.S. nuclear plants

‘They are leaving … municipalities to fend for themselves should catastrophe strike,’ says Taras Natyshak

CBC News Posted: Dec 13, 2017 9:27 PM ET

Essex MPP Taras Natyshak and Amherstburg fire officials held a press conference at Queen’s Park Wednesday to demand the provincial government provide more support for Ontario towns near U.S. nuclear plants.

• Ontario towns in range of U.S. nuclear disasters get ‘little assistance’ from province, says AG
• Ontario’s new plan for nuclear emergencies ‘inadequate’: environmental groups

The call for action came after a recent report by Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said Ontario’s emergency response for nuclear disasters is not good enough.

Amherstburg is about 16 kilometres from the Fermi II Nuclear plant in Michigan, yet it does not received the same level of support as communities near Canadian nuclear generating stations, according to Lysyk, including thyroid blocking pills, practice tests and emergency management.

“Local leaders have been speaking out for years, calling for the Liberal government to finally wake up and realize that they are leaving southwestern Ontario municipalities to fend for themselves should catastrophe strike,” said Natyshak. “It’s time for the Wynne government to finally take responsibility for emergency management and provide southwestern Ontario communities with the support they need.”

Amherstburg gets $25,000 annually from Detroit, Mich.-based DTE Energy Co. which goes directly to a nuclear management program, funding things like the town’s siren notification system.

“We get nothing from Ontario,” Montone previously told CBC News, adding that communities near nuclear power plants located in Ontario receive more than $100,000 a year in funding from the provincial government.

“We are not nearly as prepared as we need to be.”

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/nuclear-support-natyshak-amherstburg-1.4447775

December 14, 2017 - Posted by arclight2011part2 | Uncategorized