Time is on our side, says Teeswater resident

To the Editor:

It seems, once again, the battle is heating up between those who wish to protect our waterways and those who are willing to listen.  

The DGR (for used nuclear fuel) has the potential to bring economic prosperity to the region of South Bruce and beyond for generations, if everything goes well, or it has the potential to cause catastrophic irreversible damage to the environment for generations, if everything goes wrong.  

Less-impactful considerations are such things as responsible stewardship of waste created for our benefit versus decreasing property values.  

Add up all the considerations, large and small, and it seems the decision of whether or not to host the DGR is one not to be taken lightly. If the time and effort to make a decision should be proportional to the impact of said decision, then we had all better take a lot of time and put in a lot of effort to make sure we make the correct decision with this one.  

If three years from today, we as a community, decide not to host the DGR, it will have the same result as saying no today; however, if we choose to say no to the DGR today, we may be passing up a tremendous opportunity for employment and economic prosperity for our children and our children’s children.  Proverbs 19:2 says: Desire without knowledge is not good - how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

I would like to ask those in opposition to the DGR some questions: Why so hasty in your obsession to hold a referendum immediately on this decision? What is it that may happen over the next three years that you desperately want to avoid? Why do you not want to give our council and our community the opportunity to listen, learn, process, and then, in time, make an informed decision?  

The way I see it, time is on our side.

Nigel Van Dyk
Teeswater