28 AUGUST 2010

Jack MacDougall, leader of the New Brunswick Green Party, today announced his party’s strong opposition to the building of a second nuclear power plant in New Brunswick.

“This is a totally misguided policy designed to enhance the government’s chances at re-election by providing hope for jobs,” said MacDougall.  “Jobs are important, but we cannot pursue jobs at any price.”

The Green Party opposes the further development of any nuclear industry in the province, including uranium exploration and mining, refining, fuel fabrication, or new nuclear reactors.  The party also opposes the import of nuclear waste for storage.

MacDougall stated, “Building nuclear reactors is completely unfair to all future generations.  How selfish can we be?  These plants provide good jobs for thirty years but leave highly radioactive and toxic waste for at least 100,000 years.   Future generations will be forced to deal with this waste by containing it and guarding it in perpetuity, all for 30 years of electricity production.   It is inconceivable that we would embark on this course for the simple sake of politics.  We have enough on our hands with Point Lepreau.”

The Green Party’s energy critic Roy MacMullin added, “We must devote all of our energy to reducing our energy demand and building a green energy system to support local community development and reduce pollution.  The Green Party’s energy policy points us in that direction.”

MacDougall called upon Progressive Conservative David Alward to demonstrate leadership by rejecting another nuclear reactor for New Brunswick.