Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield usually works a ways from the Royal City, but he’s still working for the people in his riding. So what has he been up to lately? This is a special seasonal edition of “This Week in Lloyd.”

Lloyd Goes Nuclear!

Around mid-July Longfield joined some of his colleagues for a visit to the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Tiverton, Ontario. A media release on the visit touted Bruce Power as having an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the generation of power, as well as the production of Lutetium-177, a life-saving medical isotope used
in the treatment of various cancers.

On this last point, Longfield called it a “successful model of economic reconciliation” because of the involvement of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation in market the production of Lutetium-177 at Bruce Power.

“As an international leader in nuclear innovation, Canada is paving the way for economic opportunities in the clean energy sector,” Longfield said in a statement. “The partnership with Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Bruce Power creates a meaningful relationship that provide both financial rewards and progress in our long path to reconciliation.”

The visit to Bruce Power also included a stop at the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation to discuss reconciliation and community priorities. The Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, which Longfield is a part of, will be issuing a report on Nuclear Waste Governance in Canada sometime later this fall.

Meeting with the Chippewas of Nawash

Speaking of the meeting with the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, Longfield issued a separate state on the visit. Joined by Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and MP of Oakville North-Burlington, Longfield discussed the local economy and resolving the boiled water advisory in the area, one of 32 left unresolved in Indigenous communities across Canada.

“The comprehensive approach the Chippewas of Nawash are taking to providing clean drinking water to their community includes a new water treatment plant as well as replacing all main water supply lines, providing training, and improving operations and maintenance,” Longfield said in a statement. “Their passion for success and pride of place spills over into all areas of their community. Special thanks to Chief Veronica Smith and her team for their hospitality and warm welcome.”

Closer to Help: Funds for Guelph Black Heritage

It’s been a hard summer for Guelph Black Heritage with repeated acts of vandalism, but there was some good news for the group last month with the announcement of $21,250 from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) to improve Heritage Hall through the installation of solar panels. Also, $45,000 in funding was announced through the Tourism Relief Fund Society to produce educational products such as videos, interactive guides and programming.

“Thank you to the Guelph Black Heritage Society for continuing to develop a vision to advance and animate the Heritage Hall, providing Guelph’s Black community opportunities to educate and provide learning experiences for the broader community,” said Longfield in a statement. “I am very pleased to have the Government of Canada recognize and support the great work the GBHS is doing on the ground in Guelph.”

“The funding received from these programs has enabled the Guelph Black Heritage Society to launch new projects as we continue to emerge from pandemic restrictions,” explained GBHS president Denise Francis. “The solar panels have allowed us to increase the sustainability of the Heritage Hall and to lower our carbon footprint.”

“The funding from the Tourism Relief Fund has empowered us to continue to create resources that have made Heritage Hall a destination for cultural tourism and has enabled the residents of Guelph, Wellington County and beyond to continue to connect and learn more about the Black individuals who helped to build our community,” Francis added.