(OTTAWA) – Elizabeth May issued the following statement on the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster:
“The environmental devastation and loss of life following the Fukushima Daiichi disaster remains a tragic reminder about the dangers of nuclear energy. Next month, we remember the 30th anniversary of Chernobyl, the only other Level 7 – the maximum classification– event on the International Nuclear Event Scale.
“The Green Party of Canada remains strongly opposed to the use of nuclear energy, and we will continue to fight the Ontario government’s decision to rebuild the first of four nuclear reactors at the Darlington Nuclear Power Plant.
“Renewable energies – not nuclear – are the 21st century answer to our energy challenges. We need a national energy strategy with an enhanced, modernized East-West electricity corridor. We need to amend the Nuclear Liability Act to ensure the industry is liable for damages. Let’s ensure we leave a viable and healthy environment for future generations instead of toxic waste and dangerous nuclear relics.”
“We’re smart enough to build nuclear power plants, but we’re not yet smart enough to choose not to build them,” said Bruce Hyer, Green Party Deputy Leader. “We need to phase out nuclear power and create long-term, sustainable Canadian energy infrastructure that doesn’t bring with it risk of devastation. This isn’t a hard concept: we just need the political will.”