By SHAWN JEFFORDS,

The Observer, Sarnia May 18, 2011

Bruce Power suspended plans to ship radioactive waste through the Great Lakes to prevent it becoming an issue in this fall's provincial election, says Ontario NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns.

The company said May 6 it would be withdrawing an application before the U.S. government to ship 16 steam generators to Sweden for recycling. That followed a similar move in March when an application before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission was withdrawn.

"This issue is very hot, there's an election coming up," Tabuns said. (Bruce Power) has probably been asked to put it on the backburner to reduce the heat on the government."

Tabuns pursued the issue during question period at Queen's Park Wednesday. He asked the Ontario government to follow its counterparts in the U.S. and demand an environmental assessment on the plan.

Ultimately, he want the plan killed, he said.

"The radioactive waste should be left in storage, not shipped across the Great Lakes. It's as simple as that."

The Ontario Liberals and Conservatives have been hesitant to discuss the plan, insisting the regulation of nuclear waste is a federal matter. But the waste is Ontario's problem, Tabuns said.

"The government cannot credibly say this is not something in their jurisdiction. It's just not the case."

Tabuns said Energy Minister Brad Duguid is feeling pressure from the many communities and First Nation's groups that oppose the shipment.

"The approach of the minister, who said it's a good thing it's on hold, says to me he's nervous about this politically. He wants it to go away, he wants to take it off people's radar in the next few months."

Dave Ullrich, executive director of the Great Lakes and Cities Initiative, said the withdrawal of the U.S. application is a significant step. He wants Bruce Power will do a better job communicating and consulting with those affected by this plan.

"Anything that is done now is better than what was done before," he said. "I still think that when anyone is dealing with the largest source of fresh water in the world, there needs to be a higher standard of care to make sure that the risks are acceptable."

Steve Cannon, spokesperson for Bruce Power, said the application was withdrawn because there is no firm timetable for the shipment. The company intends to move ahead with the plan once it has consulted with stakeholders, he said.

"Given that we don't have a timetable for this, and that we've always said we want to do this right, not quickly, we're not going to follow through on the application if we don't have a timetable."

Cannon said the process has been fraught with misunderstanding and fear and that Bruce Power is trying to set the facts straight.

"People have read into things and are trying to make something out of it that it isn't. We've found that throughout this whole situation with the steam generators, purposeful or otherwise."