By Barb McKay

Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) is expected to make a decision on OPG’s project to store low- and intermediate-level waste in a deep geologic repository (DGR) later this year. Fred Kuntz, OPG’s manager of communications for the Bruce site, provided an update to council on OPG’s operations during its meeting on Monday. OPG is currently waiting on the federal government to approve the environmental assessment for the project. OPG has stated that it will not move forward on the DGR without the support of SON. *Bruce Power making strides to improve health care, not just locally, but around the world. James Scongack, vice-president of corporate affairs and operational services, attended Monday’s council meeting to provide information on Bruce Power’s current operations and its plans for the near future. Scongack talked about Bruce Power’s investment in local health care through a total of $1.45 million in contributions to several hospitals across the region this year. He acknowledged that the Kincardine hospital did not receive a piece of that funding, but noted that the $1.5 million was donated to the hospital a few years ago for the redevelopment project. “Our preference is that those funds be spent soon on immediate needs, so stay tuned on that,” he said. It has been suggested that the funds could be used for a CT scanner. Bruce Power is also looking at the feasibility of creating other types of medical isotopes, including one to treat prostate cancer. Full coverage of news from this week’s Municipality of Kincardine council meeting will be published in next week’s edition.