Ecology Ottawa's presentation to the Community and Protective Services Committee on the need for a moratorium on uranium mining and exploration

February 7, 2008

On February 7, the City of Ottawa's Community and Protective Services Committee considered a motion for city council to petition the provincial government for a moratorium on uranium mining. Members of the committee were given the petition sponsored by the Ottawa Coalition Against Mining Uranium (OCAMU) and Ecology Ottawa. Approximately 1,500 people had signed the petition, representing all wards in the city. At the meeting, 18 speakers registered to speak. They came from a variety of sectors and presented a convincing case for the health dangers of uranium mining. The quality of all of the presentations was excellent, and all were in favor of the motion. Read the Ecology Ottawa presentation to the committee below.

Ecology Ottawa supports the motion for a moratorium on uranium mining. We are a volunteer organization that wants to make Ottawa the green capital of Canada. There are many reasons for going green, but health concerns are at the forefront. We believe that Ottawans care about ecological issues, particularly those that impact on a healthy environment.

Ecology Ottawa works with residents and local organizations across the city to ensure that their voices are heard at City Hall with regard to environmental issues. Thus, teaming up with OCAMU to develop and promote the petition that you have before you today is a natural result of our mandate.

It is our belief that Ottawa's air and water quality will suffer significantly if prospecting commences on the 30,000 acres now staked out in the Sharbot Lake area. We are downwind and downstream from this activity. Experts tell us that the byproducts and waste from uranium mining are more hazardous than the uranium itself.

Our water is threatened. Radioactive particles will travel from the lakes and rivers on the proposed site to the Mississippi river. It then empties into the Ottawa River where it will continue downstream to Ottawa. What will be required to provide safe drinking water then?

Our air quality and soil are threatened. Radioactive radon gas will be released into the air and deposit radioactive fallout onto the soil over a large area that includes Ottawa and surrounding agricultural lands. How healthy will our local farm products be then? What will our air quality be like?

Of course, only the provincial government can declare a moratorium. However, if the City of Ottawa joins the eleven communities that have petitioned Queen's Park to stop the mining, it will be noticed. Just as Ecology Ottawa urges citizens to have their voices heard in municipal government, we ask City Counselors to raise their voices at the provincial level. Please join other communities and the citizens of Ottawa in asking for a moratorium on uranium exploration, prospecting and mining in Eastern Ontario.