Greens take aim at nuclear: Not safe and not a solution to the climate crisis
Canada must phase out nuclear and support renewable energy
OTTAWA – The Green Party today renewed its call for a rapid phase-out of nuclear energy and a moratorium on uranium mining and refining in Canada. The call comes as locals prepare to take action against prospecting by mining companies in both Ontario and New Brunswick. In New Brunswick, CVRD-Inco plans to prospect for uranium in a Moncton watershed. In Eastern Ontario, Frontenac Ventures is exploring for uranium on Algonquin territory in North Frontenac amid protests. There are also renewed threats of uranium mining in Nova Scotia, despite a province-wide ban.
“The Green Party opposes the nuclear fuel chain and we are very concerned that across Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s nuclear agenda constitutes a new national threat to our country,” said Green leader Elizabeth May. “We reject any plans for nuclear energy expansion on the basis that it is environmentally damaging, not economically sound and is inextricably linked to nuclear weapons proliferation.”
Ms. May added that Canada urgently needs to end reliance on nuclear energy to protect areas from the environmental and health hazards posed by uranium mining.
“Nuclear reactors cost billions to build and maintain yet are unreliable and would not be able to exist without government support in the form of costly subsidies,” said Andrew Lewis, Natural Resources critic for the Green Party. “On top of this, nuclear energy produces massive amounts of greenhouse gasses – it is not a solution to the climate crisis. Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn should end costly subsidies to the nuclear industry, phase out existing reactors and focus on conserving energy, improving efficiency and developing renewables.”
Ms. May also pointed out that because uranium mining and nuclear energy are closely linked to nuclear weapons development, phasing out nuclear energy is crucial to the Green Party’s goal of global nuclear military disarmament.
