Sustainable Development
REPORT BUILDER

Public opinion and lobbying

Understanding how the public feels about our operations and whether we have their continued support is essential to our business.

One of the ways we confirm the level of support for our operations is through periodic public opinion polling.

Public support

Recent polling data indicates continued strong earned support for our operations in Canada and the US (about 78% on average). Port Hope ranked highest in our 2011 results, at 87% support. First-time polling in Australia indicated support at about 58%.

Policy and lobbying

On many issues, the success of our company intersects with decisions made by governments at the provincial and federal level and decisions made by foreign governments. We're also affected by the decisions regulators make.

We believe it's important to have a voice as a stakeholder, on our own behalf and on behalf of our employees and, at times, community members affected by our operations.

Some of the topics we talk to governments and regulators about are:

  • climate change and energy
  • environmental assessments and oversight
  • aboriginal rights and the duty to consult
  • nuclear industry rules, regulations and international cooperation
  • handling and transportation of hazardous goods
  • foreign ownership

Our key policy position

We believe that nuclear energy should be the cornerstone of government policy designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions and meet targets for GHG reduction. We actively promote this position.

GRI Indicators

CA1 – Polling (public support)

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Supportive Communities

This indicator provides information about the level of public support for Cameco's operations in Saskatchewan, northern Saskatchewan, Port Hope (Ontario), the US, and Australia.

Public Polling Numbers for each region%2009201020110255075100

What it means

Cameco continues to enjoy strong support for our operations.

Year over year variance in public support is relatively modest, fluctuating slightly depending on current issues. Support in Saskatchewan declined in 2011, and rose or remained essentially flat in other jurisdictions.

Northern Saskatchewan

Support for uranium mining among northern residents remains strong at 67%. In recent years, however, support has declined somewhat, with the most pronounced drop seen in our fall 2011 polling.

Responses to an open-ended question asked during that polling indicate that some of the decline in support in Northern Saskatchewan at that time may have resulted, in part, from:

  • reaction to the events in Japan in the spring of 2011
  • opposition to long-term hosting of spent nuclear fuel (interest was expressed by three northern communities around the time of this polling)
  • public debate and opinion about resource revenue sharing (a key issue in the 2011 provincial election campaign, which coincided with our polling period).

Looking ahead

We will continue to monitor the level of support for our operations in northern Saskatchewan and gather northern opinion more frequently.

Definitions

The questions our polling companies ask are slightly different in each region:

Saskatchewan and the US

Are you supportive of the continuation of the uranium mining industry in [location]?

Ontario

Are you supportive of the continuation of Cameco's operations in Port Hope?

Australia

Are you supportive of the development of uranium mining in East Pilbara?

SO5 – Public policy, lobbying

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Supportive Communities

This indicator provides information about Cameco's involvement in public policy development in Canada, the US, Australia and Kazakhstan, and our marketing and business development interests in emerging markets like China and India.

Overview of reporting period (2009-2011)

Cameco is involved in consultation and discussions with government bodies and regulatory agencies where we operate about public policy positions and laws and regulations that affect our business.

These include:

  • climate change and energy
  • environmental assessments and oversight
  • aboriginal rights and the duty to consult
  • nuclear industry rules, regulations and international cooperation
  • handling and transportation of hazardous goods
  • foreign ownership

We believe that nuclear energy should be the cornerstone of government policy designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions and meet targets for GHG reduction, and we actively promote this position.

Industry associations

Cameco is a member of many industry associations, including, but not limited to:

  • the Uranium Producers of America
  • the Saskatchewan Mining Association
  • the Mining Association of Canada
  • the Canadian Nuclear Association
  • the World Nuclear Association
  • Australian Uranium Association

What it means

On many issues, the success of our company intersects with decisions made by governments at the provincial and federal level, and decisions made by foreign governments. Advocating our positions on issues of key importance to the company is at the core of our efforts to inform government decision making.