The Manitoba government says nuclear waste could possibly start getting trucked through that province a little over 20 years from now.
In an e-mail to MBC News, the government writes that transporting nuclear fuel could begin in 2035 at the earliest.
At the same time, the province notes it has already banned the storage of high-level radioactive waste or spent fuel anywhere in the province.
Canada is currently looking for a community that is willing to host a storage site for the waste.
Just last week, Creighton, which sits along the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border, learned it has been put on a short list of communities that could someday host a nuclear waste repository.
George Fontaine is the mayor of nearby Flin Flon.
He says he doesn’t have any deep-rooted concerns about the idea of nuclear fuel being trucked near his community:
“Uh, no. We’ve been very well informed and we’ve been educated as to the eventual plan, and there is no serious concern on our part at this time.”
Canada’s nuclear waste regulator says it will still be several years before it decides which community will be allowed to host the repository.
The Manitoba government adds the transportation of radioactive materials is federal jurisdiction, jointly regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Transport Canada.
It also says: “The Manitoba government looks forward to working cooperatively with the federal government and regulating bodies to ensure a safe transportation route through our province.”
The waste would mainly be coming from Ontario.
The project promises billions in economic spin-offs — however, fierce environmental opposition has erupted in some parts of the country over the idea.
The mayor of Creighton, Bruce Fidler, stresses nothing has been decided yet.
In an earlier interview, he explained it will take years before the next round of consultations is completed — and even then, his community still isn’t committed to doing anything.