Two provincial election candidates from Meadow Lake are trading barbs over the issue of nuclear waste storage in the province.
Yesterday, the NDP’s Helen Ben issued a press release where she appeared to link the provincial government’s study on nuclear power generation with the current debate on nuclear waste.
Ben says that’s where the idea to store nuclear waste may have been started.
“Yes, I think that’s where it may have originated from. But you know, it’s always been an issue in regards to the lack of opportunity in the north.”
For his part, Harrison says the Saskatchewan Party has always been against the idea of nuclear waste storage and he’s not sure how she can link the two issues.
“Yeah, I’m not really sure how that link’s drawn. I think what’s clear though is the position of the government is that we’re not interested in nuclear waste storage, we don’t think the people of the province are interested in it.”
Meantime, Harrison claims Ben appears to be open to the idea of storing nuclear waste.
He points to a story in a Meadow Lake newspaper about an all-candidates’ debate that recently took place.
The story indicates Ben didn’t unequivocally rule out the possibility of storage.
“You know, candidate Helen Ben has said on the front page of the paper today that she is open to nuclear waste storage in northern Saskatchewan.”
However, Ben says, despite what the story says, she is totally against the idea.
“Definitely in the newspaper it didn’t sound like it, but basically I’m going on the record and saying no, it’s not something that I would support.”
Ben adds her party is also against the idea.