Discussion Sessions

Nationwide survey

Next, the NWMO commissioned the same research company, Navigator, to take the insight learned from the discussion sessions and create a questionnaire which would explore the same issues with a scientifically selected cross-section of Canadians. The results of this study, a telephone survey of 1900 Canadians from coast to coast, is statistically representative of the perspective of Canadians on these questions (with a margin of error of +/- 2.25%, 19 times out of 20).

The 64 questions which were asked explored:

• Canadians’ perception of the issue
• Canadians’ perception of the NWMO and the job it has been tasked to do
• Canadians’ interest in this issue; the knowledge they currently have; and their interest in learning more
• Canadians’ preferences concerning how the study of management approaches is conducted: who should be involved in decision making; the appropriate role for the public and for scientists in this process
• Canadians’ likely personal involvement in the issue: who would like to be involved; how would Canadians like to be involved
• How best to reach those Canadians who are interested and/or would like to be involved in the study.

What did Canadians say?

In this research, Canadians said:

• The management of used nuclear fuel is not, unprompted, an issue of concern; it is not an issue that Canadians tend to think about on a daily basis. However when the issue is raised for discussion, many Canadians (well more than half) say they consider the issue to be a very important one.
• Few Canadians feel they know a lot about used nuclear fuel, and how Canada currently manages this material. And, few are aware of the NWMO. Many Canadians indicate they are interested in learning more both about the management of used nuclear fuel, and about the NWMO and the study it is to conduct. Canadians also express an interest in learning more about how other countries manage used nuclear fuel.
• Most Canadians feel, when it is described to them, the NWMO’s mandate to study and recommend a long term management approach is an important one, and are supportive of it.
• Canadians feel the NWMO needs to ensure a broad range of individuals and groups become involved in the study of approaches to managing used nuclear fuel. According to Canadians, the study needs to include, first and foremost, Canadian and international engineers and scientists in the nuclear energy industry. It also needs to include: representatives of communities with nuclear power plants; environmental groups; an independent advisory council; as well as the general public. It is not acceptable to most Canadians for the NWMO to focus on engineers and scientists alone, nor is it acceptable for the NWMO to focus on the general public alone – both need to make an important contribution to the study.
• Canadians have suggested that the NWMO should use a variety of methods to both inform and involve Canadians – from the use of newspaper articles, and brochures which come to the door, to television programs which come to the home, web based activities and community meetings.
• Canadians tend to be split on the use of nuclear power for generating electricity. This is important contextual information for the NWMO as it begins to engage Canadians in a dialogue about long term management approaches.

We invite you to read the research company’s report “Report on Nation-Wide Survey”. (See the link at the bottom of this page.)

How is the NWMO Responding?

… Informing Canadian and Indigenous communities

… Ensuring the knowledge of scientists and engineers, as well as that of others and the public

… Involving Canadians and Indigenous communities

… NWMO thinking continues to evolve

NWMO has learned important lessons from this research concerning the challenge it faces in conducting a study of used fuel management approaches which will be responsive to public expectations. The NWMO is approaching the study as an iterative process of learning and response, adjustment, and pressing forward. The NWMO continues to work to identify and implement in the study the range and type of activities which will best meet the needs of Canadians, and will continue to make adjustments along the way. The NWMO plans to launch a variety of activities to solicit input and direction from the public after the release of its First Discussion Document this Fall. This includes further public attitude research at the end of this year.

The NWMO welcomes your suggestions and comment at any point along the process.

• 12-1 Report on Discussion Sessions
• 12-2 Report on Nation-Wide Survey
• Interview Schedule for Nation-Wide Survey

In late 2003, an independent research company met with Canadians in 6 discussion sessions to learn their reaction to, and comments about, Discussion Document 1 Asking the Right Questions? The Future Management of Canada's Used Nuclear Fuel. Among the findings from this research are:

• Participants had a positive response to the Discussion Document and the approach being taken by the NWMO;
• Participants felt the Analytical Framework outlined in the Discussion Document reflects their values - their priorities and concerns;
• Participants had only a few additional suggestions and concerns regarding the 10 key questions proposed to be asked and answered in the study;
• Participants approved of the NWMO's proposed method of selecting which management approaches should be the focus of attention;
• When probed for options to further engage the public on responding to the four dialogue questions posed in the report, participants suggested conventional means;
• As reflected by these participants, knowledge and intensity on the issue of managing nuclear waste continues to be low; some cynicism about waste management continues.

We invite you to read the research company's report. The NWMO welcomes hearing your thoughts.

12-3 Report on Discussion Group Findings

The NWMO has committed to using a variety of methods to dialogue with Canadians in order to ensure that the study of nuclear waste management approaches reflects the values, concerns and expectations of Canadians at each step along the way.

As part of our activities and efforts to dialogue and solicit input on our first discussion document, we commissioned an independent research company, Pollara, to conduct a nation-wide survey with a scientifically selected cross-section of Canadians. We asked the research company to explore with Canadians their thoughts concerning the appropriateness of the analytical framework outlined in the discussion document. As well, we asked the research company to repeat some questions asked one year ago to allow us to gauge any changes which may have occurred.

The results of this study, a telephone survey of 1900 Canadians from coast to coast, is statistically representative of the perspective of Canadians on these questions (with a margin of error of +/- 2.25%, 19 times out of 20).

The questions which were asked explored:

• Canadians’ perception of the issue
• Canadians’ perception of the NWMO and the job it has been tasked to do
• Canadians’ interest in this issue; the knowledge they currently have; and their interest in learning more
• Canadians’ sense of the appropriateness of the issues captured in the ten question framework
• Canadians’ likely personal involvement in the issue.

What Did Canadians Say

For the questions which were asked one year ago, there has been little change. In this research, Canadians said:

• The management of used nuclear fuel is not, unprompted, an issue of concern; it is not an issue that Canadians tend to think about on a daily basis. However when the issue is raised for discussion, many Canadians (more than half) say they consider the issue to be a very important one.
• Few Canadians feel they know a lot about used nuclear fuel, and how Canada currently manages this material. And, few are aware of the NWMO.
• Most Canadians feel, when it is described to them, the NWMO’s mandate to study and recommend a long term management approach is an important one, and are supportive of it.
• Canadians tend to be split on the use of nuclear power for generating electricity. This is important contextual information for the NWMO as it continues to engage Canadians in a dialogue about long term management approaches.

The new questions which were added to the study were designed to complement the dialogue and engagement activity which has taken place since release of our first discussion document. The new questions focused on eliciting insight on one of the key questions posed in the discussion document - “Are we asking the right questions? As we assess different methods, are we on the right track, in terms of capturing the key issues? …”

A list of 18 agree/disagree statements was created based on key elements of the analytical framework outlined in the discussion document. The statements were presented as capturing a list of traits which some people have suggested are important for Canada’s solution to the management of used nuclear fuel. Respondents were asked to rate the importance of each trait on a 0 - 10 scale on which 10 = very important.

Among the findings:

• All of the 18 statements received relatively high importance scores. No one of the statements received an average score lower than 7 out of 10. The NWMO interprets this to mean that the analytical framework outlined in the discussion document has captured priorities and objectives which are important to Canadians.
• There is little sub-group variation in the scores assigned. The NWMO interprets this to mean that the framework captures priorities and objectives which are important to a broad spectrum of Canadians.
• Some of the traits are rated more highly than are others. The most highly rated traits are: Public health and safety, Protect the environment, Focus on current generation but be fair to future generations.
• The scoring of the 18 statements reflects a balancing of priorities – take action now, but of a sort that would allow for new learning, and influence of future generations in implementation.

A second question area focused on presenting respondents with some of the difficult trade-offs which have emerged through dialogue with Canadians to date. For two of the trade-offs suggested, Canadians are clearly divided. NWMO interprets this to indicate that although there is much common ground, as reflected in Canadians’ response to the 18 statements just described, there are aspects of this issue on which we do not all agree. For instance, should we:

• Keep the waste above ground, where it is easy to access and monitor it (40% say yes), or bury the waste underground where it may be safer from external threats such as terrorist acts, but is more difficult to see and monitor (49% say yes)
• Store the waste at one centralized, dedicated site (50% say yes), or store the waste at seven nuclear power plant or research sites across the country as it is now (40% say yes).

NWMO understands that the trade-offs explored in this research do not exhaust the possibilities which will need to be considered before NWMO formulates its recommendation. This research marks only the beginning of NWMO’s exploration of this important area.

A third question area involved asking respondents to react to a small list of statements. Reaction to these statements is consistent with Canadians feeling a strong sense of responsibility to initiate action now, although action which would not entirely foreclose future options:

• Since our generation was the one which created the nuclear waste, we should be the ones to decide on and implement an approach to manage it - 84% agree strongly or somewhat with the statement.
• Since nuclear waste remains hazardous for a long time, we should let future generations decide how they wish to deal with it - 47% agree strongly or somewhat with the statement
• I believe that scientific research will soon produce a technology that will render nuclear waste safe by eliminating its radioactivity and allowing it to become part of the natural environment again - 52% agree strongly or somewhat with the statement.

We invite you to read the research company’s report “Report on Nation-Wide Survey”, and to add your perspective by contributing a comment on this report or answering a short list of these questions by completing a deliberative survey.

• 12-3 Report on Nation-Wide Survey
• Appendix: Interview Schedule

In late 2004, the NWMO asked Navigator to conduct qualitative research among members of the public. Since no one of the management options appears to perfectly achieve all the objectives that citizens said was important, balances and trade-offs will need to be made between the various objectives. The research was designed to provide some insight on how people approach the trade-offs and balances that will inevitably be required.

Specifically, the research was designed to explore the following key questions:

1. Do participants support the objectives and identify with them? Are additional objectives suggested?
2. Which objectives do they feel are most important?
3. Which trade-offs do they find difficult? Which do they find not as difficult?
4. What is it about each management option that makes participants feel their objective is acheived?
5. What do participants need to be assured of in order to accept certain management options?
6. How do considerations of possible future scenarios impact the thinking of participants?
7. Are there any particular words or phrases that participants use to discuss the objectives or their preferences?
8. What do participants suggest is important for implementation of any recommendations?

In total, ten focus groups were conducted, two groups in each of: Pickering; Sault Ste. Marie; Windsor; Saint John; and, Quebec City.

12-4 Phase 3 – Report on Discussion Group Research Findings

24 focus groups were conducted during June and July 2005, in order to solicit comment from a randomly selected cross-section of citizens on Choosing a Way Forward - Draft Study Report. The findings from these focus groups have been summarized by the research organization which conducted the research.

12-5 Report on Findings from Discussion Groups on the Draft Recommendations: Summary Report

Veraxis Research & Communications

A nation-wide telephone survey was conducted among 2641 Canadians between July 18 and August 2, 2005 in order to solicit comment from a randomly selected sample of Canadians about the NWMO's proposed approach for the management of used nuclear fuel - the Adaptive Phased Management approach.

The survey followed the release of the NWMO's Draft Study Report. As is evident from the survey, most of those interviewed were not familiar with the content of this report nor were aware of the nature of the NWMO's recommendation. For this reason, key elements of the approach were described in the survey in order to elicit comment from participants. The questions in the survey were designed to mirror, as much as possible, the key questions which formed the focus of other dialogue initiatives conducted in the same period. The questionnaire also included questions which had been asked in the two previous surveys commissioned by the NWMO, and were intended to track awareness on key variables related to the study.

The survey focused on:

• National and community issues of importance (tracking questions)
• Importance of and support for nuclear power for generating electricity (tracking questions)
• Familiarity with the nuclear waste management process (tracking questions)
• Awareness of and support for the NWMO (tracking questions)
• Support for the criteria adopted by the NWMO to guide the process of selecting a long term used nuclear fuel management option
• Perceived reasonale aspects of and concerns regarding elements of the Adaptive Phased Management approach
• Support for requirements of the used nuclear fuel waste management process.

As with all NWMO reports, comment on this report is welcome.

• 12-6 NWMO Dialogue Report: Report on National Survey
• 12-6 Interview Schedule