The federal government has extended the public comment period on the proposed designation of the Deep Geological Repository for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel as a Project of National Interest. Canadians now have until January 15, 2027, to submit their views to the Major Projects Office.

The extension, announced in the October 13 Canada Gazette, is welcome news for communities, organizations and individuals who want a greater say in the future of Canada’s nuclear waste plans.

The proposal, put forward under the federal Building Canada Act, could see the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s proposed repository added to Schedule 1 of the Act as a Project of National Interest. That possibility raises important questions about the project’s future, the role of federal decision-making and the importance of a thorough, independent impact assessment.

The project is already undergoing an integrated impact assessment led jointly by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. That process is an important opportunity to examine the project’s potential environmental, social, economic and health impacts, and to hear from the people and communities who may be affected.

A potential national interest designation makes public participation all the more important. Canadians should have the opportunity to express their views on whether such a designation is appropriate while the assessment process is still underway.

This is not just a local issue. Canada’s approach to long-term nuclear waste management has implications that extend well beyond the immediate project area. People across the country, including residents of potentially affected communities, Indigenous communities, researchers, environmental organizations and concerned members of the public, have a stake in how these decisions are made.

We encourage everyone with concerns or questions about the proposed designation to use this extended comment period. Write to the Major Projects Office, explain why a rigorous and independent assessment matters, and make your voice part of the public record.

The new deadline is January 15, 2027. Comments can be submitted directly to the Major Projects Office at: DGRComment-CommentaireDSCGP@mpo-bgp.gc.ca

More time means more opportunity to be heard. Let’s make sure that opportunity is used.