The results were tighter than almost everyone thought they’d be in a vote on if South Bruce would be a willing host to the Canada’s first permanent nuclear waste storage “I wasn’t expecting it to be that close,” acknowledged South Bruce Mayor Mark Goetz. A week of internet and phone voting, ended with less than 80 votes between those in favour and those against plans to bury Canada’s used nuclear fuel under 1,500 acres of farmers’ fields north of Teeswater. So tight, some of those who voted “no,” want a recount.
“A 2.4 per cent difference between the yes and no. That's very close.
Had there been a paper ballot, there would have been a recount. Seventy-eight ballots difference between the yes and the no. That's tight,” said Anja Van ver Vlies, who helps lead the No Nuclear Waste-Protect our Waterways citizen’s group in South Bruce.
A recount, or retabulation can be ordered by South Bruce council, but that appears unlikely. Although the vote was tight, 51.2 per cent in favour, and 48.
8 per cent against, 3,130 of 4,525 eligible referendum voters cast a ballot, that’s a whopping 69.3 per cent voter turnout, far exceeding the 50 per cent threshold set out by South Bruce to make the referendum results, binding. “The results were very close, but there was 51.
2 per cent in favor of the project, and more than 50 per cent voter turnout, so that makes it binding on council to implement at its November 12 meeting,” said Goetz. Jim Gowland has led South Bruce.
