La Loche Considered As Possible Nuclear Site

La Loche Considered As Possible Nuclear Site

Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 15:18

 

 

A provincial cabinet minister says the leaked report which examined the possibility of setting up a nuclear reactor near La Loche isn’t on the table.

 

The study concluded that Elbow, along the eastern shore of Lake Diefenbaker, was the better location.

 

But Crown Corporations Minister Ken Chevaldayoff says the document obtained by the CBC this week was commissioned by the previous NDP government, which wanted to know how SaskPower could operate the facility.

 

He adds the private sector, and not the government, should decide how such a facility would work and where the best place for it is.

 

Chevaldayoff won’t say what the government thinks about La Loche as a destination for a nuclear reactor — only that all locations should be considered.

 

He says the province is asking companies like Cameco, Areva and Bruce Power to generate ideas.

 

Chevaldayoff adds the government wants a substantial new study done before moving ahead with any decisions.

 

A northern mayor hopes the provincial government will still consider northern Saskatchewan as a potential location.

 

Buffalo Narrows Mayor Bobby Woods says he’s always been a supporter of nuclear power, and thinks a reactor could have a lot of benefit to the North.

 

Woods argues the region has lots of room and lots of water, nuclear energy is clean, and a reactor could provide jobs.

 

He suggests Cluff Lake would be a good location.

 

Woods says the important thing is that northerners are at least consulted and involved in the decision-making.