Port Hope residents have indicated a high level of satisfaction with living in the community in the latest Public Attitude Survey undertaken by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). Respondents also continued to report confidence that historic low-level radioactive waste can be safely managed through the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) cleanup.
The survey was conducted in November 2018 by CCI Research Inc., and administered by telephone to both urban and rural ward residents of Port Hope, 18 years of age or older. In response, 488 residents shared their opinions and attitudes about the project to clean up and safely store historic low-level radioactive waste in a new engineered aboveground mound within the Municipality of Port Hope. CNL is implementing the PHAI on behalf of the Federal Crown Corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.
“Public input is vital to the success of our Public Information Program, and we appreciate the respondents taking the time to share their thoughts with us,” said Alex Mahabir, Director, Communications & Stakeholder Relations. “The survey gives us valuable insight into how the community feels about this project and our efforts to keep residents informed.” While respondents identified the relocation of historic waste to the long-term waste management facility as their top concern, 83 per cent reported ongoing confidence in CNL’s ability to safely manage the waste. In addition, 95 per cent of respondents are aware of the PHAI and the plans to clean up and restore public and private properties in Port Hope.
Overall, respondents identified safe containment of the waste and improving the municipality’s image as the most important benefits of the PHAI, both of which were reported more often in 2018 than in 2016. The impact of the project on the natural environment was listed among the respondents’ top concerns.
“Each time we conduct this survey we learn something new. Our spring newsletter, which is distributed to every address in Port Hope, will focus on the results of the public attitude survey and describe how we will use the feedback to enhance our communications approach,” added Mahabir. “Our primary goal is to provide the project information residents have told us they find the most useful.”
An executive summary of the survey is posted at http://www.phai.ca, and copies of the survey report are available at the PHAI Project Information Exchange at 115 Toronto Road, Port Hope or upon request.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
