IGNACE – The Nuclear Waste Management Organization has recently released two more community studies that focus on Housing strategies and community development.
“The studies work to address many of the fundamental questions community members have asked about the project and speak to several important environmental and socio-economic impacts. They provide an opportunity for the community to understand and help shape how the project could be implemented if it proceeds in this area,” said Lise Morton, Vice-President of Site Selection.
The NWMO has been quite transparent with the Deep Geological Repository project. Their community studies provide further details on the implementation of the DRG that will affect the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area if that site is picked.
If the Northwest site is picked for the DGR, NWMO would be moving its head office to Ignace, which ultimately means they will need to staff their operations with employees.
However, where is NWMO going to find these employees who are willing to relocate to Ignace?
According to Stats Canada, in 1986, Ignace had a population of 2,314 residents, and since then the town population has been declining.
As of 2021, Ignace currently holds a population of 1,206.
Some factors to the declining population are a result of an aging population, mine closures, forestry-sector decline, and residents leaving the community.
It is no secret that opportunities in the Ignace area are limited. Young residents leave to pursue higher education and employment but opt not to return.
The most notable part of NWMO’s population study is that they foresee the potential problem with meeting their demand.
NWMO population study reads, “[t]he potential and optimistic projections would require in-migration to meet labour demands as the existing labour force does not have sufficient capacity to meet demands. Housing availability limits the potential for in-migration.”
In other words, the NWMO acknowledges that the surrounding cities and townships do not have the labour force to meet the construction and operational demand for the DGR. Therefore, to ensure the NWMO has enough labour to operate, they will need to bring in labour from else.
Considering the scope of the DRG project, these employees would not be temporary residents. They will have to move to the Ignace permanently.
Because of this, Ignace could see potential population growth in the coming years.
However, the lack of housing in the area is a cause for alarm.
According to the NWMO’s Economics and Finance Housing Study, “[t]here are not enough homes in Ignace to accommodate NWMO APM workers.”
Housing shortages have been an issue for many communities that are trying to attract new residents to their cities and town.
“In 2020, there are 6,710 occupied housing units across the Local Study Area, with most of them (70 per cent) being owner-occupied and the remainder (30 per cent) are tenant occupied,” according to NWMO’s Housing Study.
These numbers also factor in the season housing units used as short-term rental properties for cottagers.
To accommodate any kind of population growth, the NWMO and Township of Ignace would need to invest in new housing developments to attract a potential workforce for the DRG and the town itself. Those working would undoubtedly bring their families with them which would also bring in more labour to other parts of the town’s existing business and service, as well as attract new businesses who see the potential of capitalizing on the demand for services.
“The project would also serve as a catalyst in the community, attracting other businesses and services to the Ignace area,” said Morton.
Some of these possibilities include:
- hundreds of reliable long-term jobs created over several generations;
- opportunities for local businesses;
- a growing and stable population to support more community services;
- a Centre of Expertise that will be home to world-class research;
- improved infrastructure
To read these studies, print versions will be available at the Ignace Learn More Centre and digital versions are available on the NWMO’s website.
