Views and Attitudes toward Nuclear Waste: National Survey Final Report

In 2002, the federal government passed a law to create the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, also known by its initials NWMO. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) was established by Ontario Power Generation Inc., Hydro-Québec and New Brunswick Power Corporation in accordance with the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act (NFWA) to assume responsibility for the long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel. More specifically, the NWMO’s initial objective was to recommend a long-term approach for managing used nuclear fuel produced by Canada’s electricity generators. In creating this long-term approach, the NWMO consulted with stakeholders, experts and the general public to develop a comprehensive, integrated and economically sound approach for Canada. The Government of Canada selected the NWMO's recommended approach, Adaptive Phased Management in 2007. APM is consistent with the objectives identified by Canadians during previous phases of opinion research and public dialogue sessions: safe, secure, long-term containment and isolation of used nuclear fuel produced in Canada, with flexibility for future generations to make their own decisions. In order to learn more about how Canadians view several aspects of the site-selection process, the NWMO commissioned Ipsos Reid to conduct a nationally representative survey of Canadians.