What are the federal party positions on funding for new nuclear reactors? Read an article published this week in the Hill Times and the NB Media Co-op:
Party election platforms: Should new nuclear reactors be part of Canada’s climate action plan?
https://nbmediacoop.org/2021/09/17/party-election-platforms-should-new-nuclear-reactors-be-part-of-canadas-climate-action-plan/
The story was written by CRED-NB member Susan O’Donnell and Gordon Edwards, President of the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick.
CRED-NB sent a questionnaire with four questions about nuclear issues to candidates in all federal ridings in New Brunswick. Only seven candidates responded. Click here to see the full questions. Here’s a summary of the questions and responses:
Q1: Question about nuclear energy and the climate crisis:
Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for proven technologies ready to deploy now, do you support a moratorium on federal public funding for speculative nuclear reactors, including those described as “small modular reactors”?
6 candidates said YES:
- 3 NDP candidates: Evelyn Godfrey (Beausejour) • Richard Trevor Warren (New Brunswick Southwest) • Don Paulin (Saint John – Rothesay)
- 2 Green candidates: Richard Dunn (Moncton – Riverview – Dieppe) • Ann McAllister (Saint John – Rothesay)
- 1 Libertarian candidate: Brendon Kirby (Fredericton)
One candidate said NO:
- Green candidate: John Reist (New Brunswick Southwest)
___________________________________________
Q2: Question about nuclear waste
Do you support the Wolastoq Grand Council resolution opposing nuclear energy and nuclear waste on traditional Wolastoq territory?
6 candidates said YES
- 3 NDP candidates: Evelyn Godfrey (Beausejour) • Richard Trevor Warren (New Brunswick Southwest) • Don Paulin (Saint John – Rothesay)
- 3 Green candidates: Richard Dunn (Moncton – Riverview – Dieppe) • John Reist (New Brunswick Southwest) • Ann McAllister (Saint John – Rothesay)
One candidate said NO
- Libertarian candidate: Brendan Kirby (Fredericton)
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Q3: Question about informed consent with Indigenous peoples on new nuclear development
Do you support free, prior, and informed consent with Indigenous peoples on new nuclear development, including modular nuclear reactors. uranium mines and radioactive waste facilities?
All 7 candidates said YES
- 3 NDP candidates: Evelyn Godfrey (Beausejour) • Richard Trevor Warren (New Brunswick Southwest) • Don Paulin (Saint John – Rothesay)
- 3 Green candidates: Richard Dunn (Moncton – Riverview – Dieppe) • John Reist (New Brunswick Southwest) • Ann McAllister (Saint John – Rothesay)
- Libertarian candidate: Brendan Kirby (Fredericton)
____________________________________________
Q4. Question about nuclear weapons
Do you support the call for a high-level review, including by international experts, of both the nuclear weapons proliferation and environmental implications of New Brunswick’s plutonium-extraction project?
5 candidates said YES
- 3 NDP candidates: Evelyn Godfrey (Beausejour) • Richard Trevor Warren (New Brunswick Southwest) • Don Paulin (Saint John – Rothesay)
- 2 Green candidates: Richard Dunn (Moncton – Riverview – Dieppe) • Ann McAllister (Saint John – Rothesay)
One candidate said NO
- Green candidate: John Reist (New Brunswick Southwest)
One candidate was undecided
- Libertarian candidate: Brendan Kirby (Fredericton)