The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has appointed a new vice-president of Indigenous and municipal relations and transportation.
Joe Heil will be responsible for liaising between the public and the NWMO on issues including reconciliation and the transportation of used nuclear fuel.
His appointment comes following the decision last fall to situate Canada’s deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel bundles on a site in northwestern Ontario near the communities of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace.
“As the NWMO continues to advance its mandate, our commitment to fostering meaningful connections with people and communities remains a priority," said Laurie Swami, president and CEO of the NWMO, in a March 3 news release.
"The appointment of a vice-president of Indigenous and municipal relations and transportation will help ensure that collaboration, trust and our ongoing commitment to Reconciliation remain at the heart of our work moving forward.”
Heil, a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, has more than 40 years of experience in the nuclear industry, the NWMO said. He has led engagement, consultation and negotiations on large projects at the NWMO and Ontario Power Generation, including playing a key role in hosting agreement negotiations between the NWMO and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
“The NWMO is committed to co-creating a shared future built on rights, equity and well-being for Indigenous peoples, and building strong relationships with the people and communities we work with,” Heil said in the release.
“In this new role, I’m looking forward to ensuring that communities’ voices continue to be heard, that questions about the safe transportation of radioactive materials are discussed, and that we continue to live our organization’s commitment to Reconciliation every day as we advance our work.”
