Summary

Thunder Bay City Council took action on nuclear waste transport, formally requesting the Nuclear Waste Management Organization keep used nuclear fuel stored near its source rather than shipping it through the city, and asked federal and provincial officials to review the city's hazardous materials routes. Council rejected a proposal to delay advocacy on nuclear safety principles pending more information, choosing instead to move forward with the Proximity Principle discussion. The council also confirmed routine administrative items including meeting minutes and by-laws from the session.

Motions

Confirmation of Agenda

#1 CARRIED

Council confirmed the agenda for the September 9, 2024 meeting, including all printed items and any additional new business that was added.

WITH RESPECT to the September 9, 2024 City Council, we recommend that the agenda as printed, including any additional information and new business, be confirmed.

Moved by Michael Zussino , seconded by Trevor Giertuga

Nuclear waste transport through Thunder Bay

#4 media

Council will review whether Thunder Bay's hazardous materials route can be changed, and will formally ask the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to keep used nuclear fuel stored near where it's generated rather than transporting it through the city. The city will also send this request to federal and provincial officials.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Councillor Kristen Oliver, Chair – Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, dated July 31, 2024, we recommend that Administration review the Dangerous Goods Route and determine if there are potential changes that may be enacted relative to the travel of hazardous materials through the City of Thunder Bay

  • a letter be drafted on behalf of City Council urging the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to pursue the option of managing the used nuclear fuel waste closer to the reactor stations where the waste has been generated and is currently stored and thereby avoid the transportation of nuclear waste through Thunder Bay
  • a copy of this resolution be shared with NWMO, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada, MP Patty Hajdu and MP Marcus Powlowski
  • any necessary by-laws be presented to Council for ratification. Request for Referral-Amended-Advocacy to the Province of Ontario to Adopt the Proximity Principle Memorandum from Councillor Kasey Etreni, dated August 30, 2024 containing a motion relative to the above noted was distributed separately on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Moved by Kristen Oliver , seconded by Shelby Ch'ng

Nuclear Proximity Principle study - DEFEATED

#5 LOST notable

Council voted to send a proposal about the Proximity Principle to the Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee to gather more information from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission before proceeding. The motion failed to pass.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Councillor Kasey Etreni dated August 30, 2024, we recommend that the resolution relating to Advocacy to the Province of Ontario to Adopt the Proximity Principle from the August 26, 2024 Committee of the Whole minutes be referred to the Inter- Governmental Affairs Committee to gather more information from the federally regulatory-body, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

  • the Committee share this information with Council once received
  • any necessary by-laws be presented to City Council for ratification.
Moved by Kasey Etreni , seconded by Kristen Oliver

Nuclear waste transport concerns

#6 CARRIED Recorded vote: 12-0 media
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 12–0
Albert Aiello Aiello
Andrew Foulds Foulds
Brian Hamilton Hamilton
Dominic Pasqualino Pasqualino
Greg Johnsen Johnsen
Kasey Etreni Etreni
Ken Boshcoff Boshcoff
Kristen Oliver Oliver
Mark Bentz Bentz
Michael Zussino Zussino
Rajni Agarwal Agarwal
Trevor Giertuga Giertuga

Council is asking the city to review hazardous materials routes and send a letter to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization asking them to store nuclear waste near reactor sites instead of transporting it through Thunder Bay.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Councillor Kristen Oliver, Chair – Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, dated July 31, 2024, we recommend that Administration review the Dangerous Goods Route and determine if there are potential changes that may be enacted relative to the travel of hazardous materials through the City of Thunder Bay

  • a letter be drafted on behalf of City Council urging the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to pursue the option of managing the used nuclear fuel waste closer to the reactor stations where the waste has been generated and is currently stored and thereby avoid the transportation of nuclear waste through Thunder Bay
  • a copy of this resolution be shared with NWMO, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada, MP Patty Hajdu and MP Marcus Powlowski
  • any necessary by-laws be presented to Council for ratification. It was requested that Paragraph 1 & 4 and Paragraphs 2 & 3 be voted on separately. Amended-Advocacy to the Province of Ontario to Adopt the Proximity Principle – Paragraphs 1 & 4
Moved by Kristen Oliver , seconded by Shelby Ch'ng

Dangerous goods truck routes review

#7 CARRIED notable

Council is asking Administration to review the routes that hazardous materials trucks can take through Thunder Bay and propose any changes needed. If changes are recommended, they'll come back to Council for approval.

WITH RESPECT to the Memorandum from Councillor Kristen Oliver, Chair – Inter-Governmental Affairs Committee, dated July 31, 2024, we recommend that Administration review the Dangerous Goods Route and determine if there are potential changes that may be enacted relative to the travel of hazardous materials through the City of Thunder Bay

  • any necessary by-laws be presented to Council for ratification.
Moved by Kristen Oliver , seconded by Shelby Ch'ng

Nuclear waste transportation opposition

#8 LOST media

Council urged the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to keep used nuclear fuel stored near reactor stations instead of transporting it through Thunder Bay. The motion failed to pass.

AND THAT a letter be drafted on behalf of City Council urging the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to pursue the option of managing the used nuclear fuel waste closer to the reactor stations where the waste has been generated and is currently stored and thereby avoid the transportation of nuclear waste through Thunder Bay

  • a copy of this resolution be shared with NWMO, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Canada, MP Patty Hajdu and MP Marcus Powlowski;
Moved by Kristen Oliver , seconded by Shelby Ch'ng

Ratifying Resolution

#10 CARRIED

Council approved a board appointment to the Thunder Bay Port Authority. This is a standard governance action to ratify the appointment of a board member or director to the port authority.

THAT the following ratifying resolution be introduced, read, dealt with individually: 1. Board Appointment - Thunder Bay Port Authority

Moved by Greg Johnsen , seconded by Kasey Etreni

Procedural

#2 CARRIED Council confirmed the official minutes from two City Council meetings held on August 26, 2024. This is a standard procedural step to verify that the recorded minutes accurately reflect what was discussed and decided.
Moved by Greg Johnsen , seconded by Michael Zussino
#3 Council adopted the minutes from the August 26, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting. A separate vote was held on a resolution about asking the Province of Ontario to adopt the Proximity Principle.
Moved by Andrew Foulds , seconded by Brian Hamilton
#9 CARRIED Council approved the official minutes from the August 26, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting, making them part of the permanent record.
Moved by Andrew Foulds , seconded by Brian Hamilton
#11 CARRIED Council approved an update to the municipal law enforcement by-law to clarify the appointment of parking enforcement officers for Thunder Bay.
Moved by Albert Aiello , seconded by Kristen Oliver
#12 CARRIED Council formally approved and officially recorded all decisions made at the September 9, 2024 council meeting by adopting By-law 331-2024. This is standard procedure to confirm that the meeting followed proper rules.
Moved by Andrew Foulds , seconded by Brian Hamilton