According to the David Suzuki Foundation, New Brunswick’s Point Lepreau is a 22-year-old nuclear power plant nearing the end of its life. It will cost at least $1.4 billion to refurbish the plant so that it can continue operating. New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord has said the province will not go ahead with the Point Lepreau refurbishment without Ottawa’s financial help.

The premier is looking for $400 million from the federal government to help cover the cost of refurbishment. Any federal subsidies for the reconstruction of Point Lepreau would set a costly precedent - all of Canada’s nuclear reactors will need to be closed or refurbished over the next 15 years.

There are better options than Point Lepreau — $1 billion could fund large conservation and energy efficiency strategies and a variety of renewable energy options, such as wind power and biomass, that could help meet New Brunswick’s energy needs for the next two decades.

Act now! The federal government is seriously considering spending $200 million to help refurbish Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear power plant. Nuclear power plants are plagued with unresolved safety issues, high security risks, chronic under-performance problems, massive cost overruns and unresolved toxic waste issues.

Please write to Prime Minister Paul Martin and Finance Minister Ralph Goodale and urge them not to subsidize the Point Lepreau nuclear station. Let Ottawa know that energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy can provide new jobs and cleaner, safer options for the people of New Brunswick.

The Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada

E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca

The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance E-mail: Goodale.R@parl.gc.ca