As South Bruce residents continue to vote in a crucial referendum on whether to host a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel, Mayor Mark Goetz has shared insights into the community's perspective on this monumental decision.
Voting is open until 8:00 p.m. Monday, allowing approximately 4,300 eligible voters to express their views on the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's (NWMO) proposed waste storage facility.
In an interview with CKNXNewsToday.ca, Mayor Goetz noted that the community has only recently become vocal about the issue, particularly after the land purchase agreement was made.
“For the most part, the community was fairly backseat until the land purchase agreement was made. That’s when the community got vocal. I’m not real impressed with some of the goings-on lately, like finger-pointing and misinformation,” he expressed, emphasizing his disappointment with the negative atmosphere surrounding the discussion. “The abuse that staff is taking....staff are there to do a job, and follow council direction.”
Looking ahead, Goetz expressed hope that the results of the referendum would allow the community to heal.
“I’m looking forward to the results and putting this behind us. Hopefully, at that point, the community can start to rebuild, bond back together, and move the municipality forward in whatever method we have to,” he said.
Goetz welcomes the impact of the results.
“It should put an end to it, but I’m confident that if it goes one way or another, it likely won’t," he said. "The only way it would put an end to it is if we eliminate ourselves from the process. We’ve been involved in this process for 12 years. There was ample opportunity to get educated, yet unfortunately, it’s left to the 11th hour, and a handful of people are interpreting what they believe these agreements mean.”
Goetz urged residents to take their responsibility seriously. He said he expects every person casting a ballot to have read the hosting agreement and ask questions of the people who negotiated it to understand the intent of it.
Addressing concerns about the possibility that the required 50 per cent voter turnout threshold might not be met, Goetz remained cautiously optimistic.
“There’s always that possibility. If the threshold doesn’t get met by the community, and then council decides, council is going to be in a no-win situation," he said. "Somebody is going to be blaming them and pointing the finger at them. I don’t feel there’s a possibility. I’m confident, basing this on the last election, which saw a 59.33 per cent voter turnout. I like to think that more people are paying attention now than they were in the fall of 2022. Based on that, I’m feeling the threshold will be met.”
As the end of voting draws near, Mayor Goetz plans to attend the municipal office for the announcement of the results.
“At some point, I will make my way to the municipal office for the announcement,” he said. However, he clarified that the council will officially endorse the decision during a regular meeting on November 12.
“Nothing is final until that point,” he reiterated.
Voter assistance centers will be available at the Mildmay fire station and the Municipal Office in Teeswater, providing support for those needing help with the online and telephone voting process.
South Bruce plans to have the results posted shortly after polls close on October 28. The NWMO still requires consent from both the Saugeen Ojibway Nation and the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, with the latter scheduled to hold its referendum in late November.
