Peterborough city council has approved a new five-year funding agreement with Ontario Power Generation to support the city’s role as a designated Nuclear Host Community under the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan.
The agreement, effective January 1st, through December 31st, 2030, provides $75,000 in 2026, with annual incremental increases to account for inflation. The funding is intended to offset costs associated with the city’s legislated responsibilities as a Nuclear Host Community, a designation Peterborough has held since 1997.
Under the proposed arrangement, the city is required to provide annual radiation awareness and vehicle decontamination training for Peterborough Fire Services staff, conduct nuclear reception centre training for emergency support services personnel and community partners, regularly review and update the city’s Nuclear Emergency Response Plan, and maintain inventories of reception centre supplies.
City staff will also conduct on-site reviews at Fleming College to confirm nuclear flow paths and service delivery locations, plan for vulnerable populations, and participate in provincial committees, including the Nuclear Emergency Management Coordinating Committee, the Nuclear Evacuation and Transportation Sub-Committee, the Nuclear Compensation Working Group, and the Potassium Iodide Working Group.
The agreement also requires the city to plan and execute a Nuclear Reception Centre exercise in accordance with the Provincial Nuclear Exercise Schedule. The new arrangement replaces the previous five-year agreement, which provided $25,500 annually.
