Item - 2016.EX16.46
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Executive Committee on June 28, 2016 and was deferred indefinitely. Consult the text of the decision for further information on the deferral.
EX16.46 - Request for the Government of Ontario to Close Pickering Nuclear Station in 2018
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Deferred Indefinitely
- Wards:
- All
Committee Decision
The Executive Committee deferred the item indefinitely.
Origin
Summary
City Council on June 7, 8 and 9, 2016, referred Motion MM19.7 to the Executive Committee.
The Pickering Nuclear Station was expected to shut down on August 31, 2018 when its existing Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission licence expires. The Ontario Power Generation wants to extend its operation until 2024.
The Pickering Nuclear Station is the 4th oldest nuclear station in North America and the 7th oldest in the world. It is surrounded by more people – 2 million people within 30 kilometres – than any other nuclear plant in North America. Ontario has a large electricity surplus and no longer needs the Pickering Nuclear Station to keep our lights on. In 2015, Ontario exported more electricity than the Pickering Nuclear Station produced.
The Pickering Nuclear Station is one of the highest cost nuclear plants in North America. Closing the Pickering Nuclear Station will reduce Ontario's electricity costs by $900 million per year. The decommissioning and dismantling of the Pickering Nuclear Station could create 16,000 person-years of employment between now and 2030.
Ontario's future electricity needs can be met at a lower cost by water power imports from Quebec, energy efficiency investments and cost-effective Made-in-Ontario green energy. Closing the Pickering Nuclear Station will increase public safety for the residents of Toronto, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-94192.pdf
Communications
(June 23, 2016) E-mail from Jack Gibbons, Ontario Clean Air Alliance (EX.Supp.EX16.46.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/ex/comm/communicationfile-61761.pdf
(June 24, 2016) E-mail from Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director and Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) (EX.Supp.EX16.46.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/ex/comm/communicationfile-61790.pdf
(June 26, 2016) E-mail from Sunil Nijhawan (EX.Supp.EX16.46.4)
(June 26, 2016) E-mail from Frank Greening (EX.Supp.EX16.46.5)
(June 27, 2016) Letter from Don MacKinnon, President, Power Workers' Union (EX.Supp.EX16.46.6)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/ex/comm/communicationfile-61793.pdf
(June 27, 2016) E-mail from Andrea Ionescu (EX.Supp.EX16.46.7)
(June 28, 2016) Submission from Karen Buck (EX.New.EX16.46.8)
(June 28, 2016) E-mail from John Barrett, President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Association (EX.New.EX16.46.9)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/ex/comm/communicationfile-61779.pdf
(June 28, 2016) Letter from Dr. Jose Etcheverry, Associate Professor and Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy Initiative, York University (EX.New.EX16.46.10)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/ex/comm/communicationfile-61861.pdf
(July 29, 2016) E-mail from Mark Mattson, Waterkeeper and President, Lake Ontario (LW) (EX.New.EX16.46.11)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/ex/comm/communicationfile-61869.pdf
Speakers
George Smitherman
Monica Whalley
Gideon Forman, Climate Change and Transporation Policy Analyst, David Suzuki Foundation
Janet McNeil
Mike Brigham
Karen Buck
Kevin Powers, Ontario Power Generation
Motions
Vote (Defer Item Indefinitely) Jun-28-2016
Result: Carried | Majority Required |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 7 | Members that voted Yes are Gary Crawford, Frank Di Giorgio, Denzil Minnan-Wong, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory (Chair) |
Total members that voted No: 4 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Michelle Holland, Mary-Margaret McMahon, David Shiner |
Total members that were Absent: 2 | Members that were absent are Ana Bailão, Cesar Palacio |