On Wednesday, February 14th, supporters from across Ontario and Quebec gathered in front of Parliament for our Scrap the Chalk River NSDF rally. The day began with a press conference where leaders from Kebaowek First Nation, Kitigan Zibi First Nation, the Bloc Québécois, the Green Party of Canada, and the Concerned Citizens of Renfrew Country and Area delivered addresses to the media on our united stance against the NSDF project and our calls for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to retract their license to construct the project. 

 

The event drew together supporters from First Nations, community groups, environmental NGO’s, and citizens from throughout the Ottawa River valley for an afternoon of drumming, speeches, and demonstrating to highlight the failure of the CNSC to uphold its duty to consult, neglecting the constitutionally protected and inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples. The leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchette, raised an important question in the House of Commons following the rally, saying “The Anishinaabe Nation has concluded with full certainty that [the NSDF] is not safe. The nation of Quebec has also concluded with absolute certainty that this is an unsafe project. So, is the prime minister only listening to nuclear lobbyists?”

 

Miigwetch, thank you, and merci to the many allies and supporters who joined us to demonstrate and call upon the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to right their wrongs and safeguard the Ottawa River for future generations.

 

We are Stronger Together. Protect the Kichi Sibi.