Moose Jaw – The Green Party of Saskatchewan hosted a public forum in Moose Jaw last night to provide an opportunity for free public education about the economic, health and safety risks of nuclear power and uranium mining in advance of the Uranium Development Partnership (UDP) consultation meetings. 

The Government of Saskatchewan's Uranium Development Partnership report released March 31, 2009 recommends building nuclear reactors, a uranium enrichment facility and a nuclear waste dump as a way to "add value" to Saskatchewan's uranium resource. This is a major decision that will affect future generations and severely limit our options for developing renewable energy. The government is holding public meetings in the province through the month of June to gather input from citizens on this important issue, but the city of Moose Jaw (population 35,000) was not included on the list of stops for the UDP consultation meetings.  This public forum was held to provide an alternate outlet for the people of Moose Jaw to ask questions and to express their opinions about the future of uranium in Saskatchewan.  Questions and statements from the audience were documented by video and will be submitted to the Uranium Development Partnership consultations.

The evening began with an informative presentation by Dr. Jim Harding, retired professor of environmental and justice studies, and author of Canada’s Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear System (Fernwood, 2007). Dr. Harding spoke of the harsh bias of the Uranium Development Partnership, which is made up of several people working for the nuclear industry, many who stand to benefit from personal economic gain.  The “so-called” environmental rep, Patrick Moore, has been publicly denounced by Green Peace and the environmental community. Pointing to the undemocratic process that has unfolded, Dr. Harding stated, “The UDP put out their report first and then asked us what we think.  Why didn’t they come to us for input before the report was written?”  Dr. Harding also pointed out that according to polls, “the women of Saskatchewan are against nuclear”, and “the Uranium Development Partnership is made up of twelve men and no women.”  

The organizing committee of this event aimed to provide a balanced panel of speakers. Representatives from the Government of Saskatchewan were invited to participate but were either unable or unwilling to attend.  An invitation to participate was also extended to NDP leadership candidate Dwain Lingenfelter, but no response from Mr. Lingenfelter was received. 

Questions and statements from the audience covered a range of topics such as renewable energy and energy conservation, local and safe food production, existing technology capable of making medical isotopes without nuclear fission, nuclear weapons proliferation, the health risks of carcinogenic toxins released into our environment through nuclear power and uranium mining, and what to do about “flawed” and “biased” Uranium Development Partnership consultation meetings.

“What we are seeing is an unfair process that has been sped up; this is not being done in a democratic way,” said Larissa Shasko, Leader of the Green Party of Saskatchewan and emcee for the evening.  

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For more information contact

Larissa Shasko- larissa.shasko@gmail.com  home (306)692-7925 or mobile (306)690-1404