Reviewing Section 15.9: Economic Conditions and Regional Workforce Analysis
This article is part of a series exploring the views and perspectives of youth, artists and community members working with the Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project. This initiative is a climate entrepreneurship and arts-based community recreation program, developed through community consultation, engagement participation in the integrated impact assessment process for the NWMO’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for nuclear waste fuel.
What is Proposed
In the Initial Project Description, the proponent (NWMO) characterizes Northwestern Ontario as a resource-based economy historically dependent on mining and forestry, currently facing challenges such as an aging population and youth out-migration. The baseline data relies heavily on Statistics Canada census figures to profile the Kenora Census Division, specific municipalities (Ignace, Dryden, Sioux Lookout), and surrounding First Nations.
The proponent asserts that the current economic baseline characterization is ‘sufficiently advanced’ to support a risk-informed assessment for non-Indigenous peoples. They acknowledge significant disparities in income and employment between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, as well as notable gender-based wage gaps, but currently plan no additional public baseline work other than an update with 2026 Census data.
Underlying Assumptions
Our analysis of the text identifies several critical assumptions that shape the proponent’s approach to economic impact:
- Workforce Residency: The assessment assumes that the primary workforce will reside within a one-hour drive of the project site, a premise that dictates the geographic scope of the study but lacks a supporting commuter study or housing capacity assessment.
- Data Sufficiency: It is assumed that standard Census data is sufficient for establishing baselines for small First Nations communities, despite the admission that ‘random rounding’ and data suppression make these figures statistically unreliable.
- Interim Validity: The proponent assumes that using ‘interim’ and unvalidated data for First Nations is acceptable for this stage of the process, deferring formal validation to the future Impact Statement phase.
Community Assessment
Through our consultation process, community members and technical reviewers have flagged significant concerns regarding the quality and implications of the presented data. A primary concern is the staggering gender income disparity identified in Ignace, where males earn approximately 98.9% more than females. While the proponent notes this statistic, there is a lack of analysis regarding the systemic causes or how the project—likely to hire in male-dominated sectors—might exacerbate this inequality.
Furthermore, the reliance on suppressed and unvalidated census data for First Nations (such as Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and Eagle Lake First Nation) creates a fragile foundation for decision-making. Community members have noted that ‘random rounding’ for populations under 100 people fails to capture the reality of the local economy, informal trade, or specific barriers to employment. Without validated, primary data, the proposed mitigation strategies may not align with actual community needs.
Path Forward
To ensure the integrated impact assessment is robust and equitable, our review proposes specific corrective measures. The proponent must move beyond ‘interim’ census data and prioritize the execution of community-led socio-economic studies. These studies should be designed to capture the nuances of traditional economies and validated directly by the respective First Nations.
Additionally, a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) is required to address the severe wage gaps identified in the baseline. Finally, we recommend the development of a ‘Regional Human Resources and Infrastructure Strategy’ that includes a feasibility study on housing and cost-of-living impacts, ensuring that the assumption of a local workforce is backed by the infrastructure necessary to support it.
About the Integrated Assessment Process
The federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has formally launched the integrated impact assessment process for the proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel Project, a major national infrastructure initiative led by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
The proposed underground repository is designed to permanently contain and isolate used nuclear fuel in a secure geological formation. Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace have been selected as host communities for the project. The site is located approximately 21 kilometres southeast of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and 43 kilometres northwest of Ignace, Ontario, near Highway 17.
According to project materials, the repository would provide permanent storage for approximately 5.9 million bundles of used nuclear fuel. The full lifecycle of the project is expected to span roughly 160 years, including site preparation, construction, operations, closure, and long-term monitoring.
Integrated Federal Review
Major nuclear projects in Canada are subject to an integrated assessment process jointly led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). This “one project, one review” approach is intended to streamline regulatory oversight while ensuring rigorous evaluation of environmental, health, social, economic, and Indigenous rights impacts.
Under this framework, IAAC oversees the impact assessment requirements under the Impact Assessment Act, while the CNSC regulates nuclear safety under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The CNSC will issue the initial site preparation licence and manage all subsequent nuclear licensing for the project’s duration.
The integrated assessment also includes a focus on potential impacts on Indigenous Peoples, including rights, land use, cultural practices, health, and socio-economic conditions. Where potential adverse effects are identified, the process is intended to identify mitigation measures to reduce or avoid harm.
Public Comment Period Now Open
The first public comment period for the project is currently open and will run until February 4, 2026. During this phase, the public is invited to provide feedback on the Summary of the Initial Project Description submitted by the NWMO. Submissions received during this period will inform IAAC’s summary of issues, which will guide the next stages of the impact assessment. All comments submitted become part of the public project record and are posted to the federal Impact Assessment Registry.
This plain-language summary is provided by ECO-STAR North and Art Borups Corners to support public engagement.
Disclaimer: The views and perspectives expressed in this article are solely those of the independent arts program led by ECO-STAR North and Art Borups Corners. They do not reflect the official positions of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) or the Government of Canada.
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