I am pleased to present the 2022–23 Annual Report of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), outlining to Parliamentarians and Canadians how we protected the environment and the health, safety and security of persons, and met our international obligations. It was another year of exemplary performance for Canada’s nuclear facilities in the areas of safety, environmental protection, security and the fulfillment of international obligations.
This report demonstrates how we ensure not only robust regulatory oversight, but also enable innovation in Canada’s nuclear sector.
As I reach the end of my 5-year term as President and CEO of the CNSC in 2023, I feel immensely proud of the vital work we have undertaken in our role as Canada’s nuclear regulator. Strengthening our cooperation with international partners, building trust with Indigenous Nations and communities, modernizing our ways of working, and establishing a more inclusive and agile workforce – our achievements this year clearly built on a proven legacy of regulatory excellence and global leadership to support nuclear safety and security at home and abroad.
The CNSC maintained regulatory oversight of Bruce Power’sFootnote 1 Unit 6 major component replacement (MCR), where return-to-service activities continue, and began Unit 3 MCR activities, such as defueling and isolating the reactor and removing old components In addition, the first regulatory hold point for the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station’sFootnote 2 Unit 3 was lifted. It is progressing with lead-out activities, with 3 hold points remaining. Unit 1 refurbishment began in February 2022. It is nearing the end of the removal phase. The refurbishment of Darlington Units 1 and 3 is progressing according to schedule, with regular compliance inspections being performed as planned.
This past fiscal year, we undertook 2 key licensing activities for medical isotope–producing initiatives. The first was the commissioning of molybdenum-99 radionuclide production at Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG’s) Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. The second was the commissioning of the installed lutetium-177 isotope production system at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station.
The positive findings from the Office of the Auditor General’s (OAG’s) 2022–23 audit of our management of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste are an important validation of how we fulfill our mandate. OAG audits also provide valuable feedback on how we can improve in our endeavours. We are addressing the OAG’s recommendations in the spirit of continuous improvement.
Our international leadership and global nuclear influence remained an important priority in 2022–23. At the Canadian Nuclear Association’s 2023 conference, where the theme was Canada’s Global Leadership, I provided remarks on how the CNSC, as a strong and proactive regulator, is not an impediment to innovation, but rather, one of Canada’s key assets. Furthermore, Canada currently chairs important international nuclear bodies, including the International Nuclear Regulators’ Association and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Commission on Safety Standards, where we share expertise, address emerging challenges and pursue opportunities for collaboration. Our position of influence is essential to improving safety not just here at home, but around the world.
In addition, we continue to work towards the international standardization of small modular reactor (SMR) designs and the harmonization of regulatory practices. To this end, we renewed our memoranda of understanding with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and with the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation, and signed a new memorandum of cooperation with Poland’s National Atomic Energy Agency.
We continued to further our readiness for SMRs, especially through the funding provided in Budget 2022, A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More AffordableFootnote 3. We also received our first application for a licence to construct in 30 years, for OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project, which will use the BWRX-300 SMR technology.
While our international leadership and our regulatory readiness and oversight are key to our success, how we engage with the public and Indigenous peoples is vital to our mandate as a trusted regulator. As part of that engagement, we created the Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund using funding received through the Impact Assessment Renewal Initiative.
We also co-hosted Canada’s first Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) International Mentoring Workshop. I had the pleasure of co-chairing the workshop along with Emily Whetung-MacInnes, Chief Emerita of Curve Lake First Nation, and Yeonhee Hah, Vice President for Global Activities with the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety. This immersive workshop was the first of its kind in Canada, and what a success it was! A total of 39 talented Grade 9 Indigenous girls attended the workshop at Trent University. Mentors wove Indigenous knowledge with Western science to engage participants and inspire them to consider STEM-related careers.
Safety culture remained at the forefront of the CNSC’s focus this past year, with Canada hosting the Country-Specific Safety Culture ForumNote de bas de page 4 with the NEA and the World Association of Nuclear Operators. The purpose of this forum was to bring together Canadian nuclear stakeholders and international experts to address specific national characteristics and their impact on day-to-day operations and safety culture. The report is slated to be published in summer 2023.
I am very pleased to say that, during this last fiscal year, we created the Transformation Management Office (TMO) to drive agility, adaptability and innovation in all we do, working with internal partners on medium- and long-term planning. The TMO will provide oversight, support and integrated information for decision making on projects that impact core program delivery and key organizational priorities. This will support our vision to be a world-class regulator.
I invite you to read the CNSC’s 2022–23 Annual Report to learn more about our strategic and operational achievements from the past year. I would like to recognize CNSC staff once again for their hard work and for their dedication to protecting the environment and the health, safety and security of Canadians.
Rumina Velshi
President
Results at a glance
The commitment to the CNSC’s core responsibility of nuclear regulation, the fulfillment of the organization’s mandate, and the achievement of its departmental results for 2022–23 and beyond are delivered through the CNSC’s 5 programs. The programs include the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Program, Nuclear Reactors Program, Nuclear Substances and Prescribed Equipment Program, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Program, and Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information Program (plus Internal Services) and are guided by 4 strategic priorities.
The CNSC is committed to a modern approach to nuclear regulation using science- and evidence-based, risk-informed, and technically sound regulatory practices that consider scientific uncertainties and evolving expectations.
focused hiring to increase its capacity and capability
launching the SMR Readiness project internal initiatives aimed at increasing regulatory predictability
external initiatives such as the SMR Leadership Table and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative
continued international collaboration, cooperation and harmonization with other nuclear regulators
a partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to launch the CNSC–NSERC SMR Grant Initiative
the Joint Convention, to which Canada is a contracting party, is an international agreement governing all aspects of the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste management
the CNSC is expected to lead Canada’s participation in the next Joint Convention review meeting in 2025
completed its review of the draft of Canada’s Policy for Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning; Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) published the PolicyFootnote 9 in March 2023
conducted a self-assessment to gain a better understanding of how its inspection process is implemented across the organization
the assessment identified opportunities for improvement, and a recommendation was made that inspection practices be standardized across all CNSC directorates that use this process
the assessment also confirmed the effectiveness and benefits of the CNSC’s current approach to conducting onsite, remote and hybrid inspection activities
specifically, this flexible approach allows for the safe conduct of inspection activities even in situations where site access may be limited or restricted; it is also beneficial when direct onsite observations are not necessary
this approach also offers more flexibility to inspection team members in terms of how they participate
a management action plan was developed to address recommendations arising from the assessment; actions are already underway and are expected to be completed by 2024–25
Innovation/Experimentation
CNSC staff continue to explore innovative technologies. For example, in 2022–23, staff engaged with the IAEA and participated in the Transport Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC) Technical Experts Group to obtain the latest information on transportable nuclear power plants (TNPPs). The CNSC also participated in the IAEA consultancy meeting that is expected to produce a technical report on design safety and security considerations for TNPPs.
In addition to engagement with other competent authorities through the IAEA, the CNSC is working with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S. NRC) through a memorandum of cooperation to consider a joint review of a transportable micro reactor design. The CNSC has also been in discussions with private industry stakeholders who are in the process of developing various TNPP technologies that can be transported by road and by sea.
In addition, as part of its commitment to innovation, the CNSC developed the Innovation and Research Hub to coordinate and explore new technologies that could have an impact on the regulation of nuclear in Canada. In 2022–23, the Hub continued to explore new technologies and began working on projects such as:
regulatory readiness for artificial intelligence
virtual reality / digital twin nuclear power plants for inspector training
the ability of drones to support compliance verification activities
The CNSC continuously strives to be a trusted regulator, recognized as independent, open and transparent, and as a credible source of scientific, technical and regulatory information.
In 2022–23, the CNSC:
continued to make progress on implementing its Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy action items, including working towards the hiring of an Indigenous advisor, who is an Indigenous leader, to help advise senior management on key issues across the CNSC; other activities that took place to build and strengthen relationships with Indigenous Nations and communities included:
signing terms of reference for agreements with the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, the Athabasca Dene First Nations represented by the Ya’thi Néné Lands and Resources Office, and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation
updating the CNSC’s Indigenous Knowledge Policy Framework
establishing the CNSC’s new Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund
enhancing and modernizing the CNSC’s Participant Funding Program
contributing to the development of the Government of Canada’s United Nations Declaration Act Action Plan
actively participated in the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Working Group on Public Communication of Nuclear Regulatory Organisations
the CNSC co-led the development of an NEA green booklet – Characteristics of a Trusted Regulator – which is now close to publication, expected in fall 2023
several regulators, including the CNSC, provided case studies to supplement the booklet and further illustrate key trust-building characteristics for the benefit of other regulators
Trust strategy
Trust remains an imperative commitment for the CNSC. The CNSC made strides under the 3 pillars of its trust-building strategy in 2022–23:
Under the “transforming stakeholder engagement” pillar, the CNSC:
conducted research, benchmarking and analysis, and developed a stakeholder engagement program proposal for the organization; the purpose of the program is to develop and maintain long-term relationships with key stakeholders to gain various perspectives, input and an understanding of values, all to be taken into consideration throughout the lifecycle of a nuclear project
Under the “demonstrating its independence” pillar, the CNSC:
began drafting a policy paper relating to whistleblower protection in Canada
identified ways in which CNSC–industry interactions could be improved, and is working to expand its Conflict of Interest Policy to encompass acceptable behaviours that will help prevent any real, potential or perceived conflicts of interest
continued to explore approaches to the proactive sharing of regulatory information
Under the “modernizing Commission proceedings” pillar, the CNSC:
decided to extend the timeline for filing proceeding submissions for intervenors from 30 days to 60 days
benchmarked against other administrative tribunals to gather information about the feasibility of pre-hearing technical conferences and about online filings and the efficient collation of proceeding documents
The CNSC leverages and influences global nuclear efforts, relevant to Canadian interests and activities, to enhance international nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation.
In 2022–23, the CNSC:
provided technical support for President Velshi and Executive Vice-President Ramzi Jammal at the Commission on Safety Standards (CSS) meetings, with staff promoting the CSS chairmanship and its activities at international fora
the overarching theme of ICRP2021+1 was Radiological Protection – The Next Generation, reflecting the need to review and refine the system of radiological protection over the coming decade to ensure that it remains fit for purpose for the next generation
provided leadership in SMR readiness by hosting technical information exchanges with the Dutch and Czech nuclear regulators and with Australian delegates, and presented on CNSC regulatory readiness at multiple events, such as:
a ministerial conference in Washington, D.C.
a tech summit in Wyoming
the IAEA International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety 2022 in Vienna
the IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Law
the International Nuclear Law Association Inter Jura Congress in Washington, D.C.
the Generation 4 and Small Reactors conference in Toronto
the NetZero Conference and Expo in Calgary
the 7th World Nuclear Industry Congress in the UK
the North American Advanced Reactor Codes & Standards Workshop in Washington, D.C.
continued to influence and hold leadership positions within multilateral organizations; for example:
the CNSC President's role as Chair of the International Nuclear Regulators’ Association
the CNSC Executive Vice-President’s chairmanship of the IAEA's Code of Conduct activities and leadership in the Regulatory Cooperation Forum
the election of the CNSC Vice-President, Legal and Commission Affairs, to the Board of Management of the International Nuclear Law Association
international events such as the IAEA General Conference, the U.S. NRC Regulatory Information Conference, and the Western European Nuclear Regulator’s Association
CNSC’s Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math initiative
The CNSC continued to further its impact under the Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (WISTEM) initiative in 2022–23. Some activities conducted under this initiative include:
operating as scientific secretary to a major gender equity initiative, led by President Velshi, called Driving Advancement of Women in Nuclear (DAWN)
DAWN supports various activities that focus on improving the gender balance by offering workshops to address the confidence gap, developing male allies in the nuclear industry, and focusing on encouraging more girls and women to pursue an education in STEM
contributing to the International Gender Champions Impact Group on Gender Equality in Nuclear Regulatory Agencies; highlights include:
the hosting of 2 Impact Group meetings by the CNSC
the establishment of a collaborative project between the Impact Group and the NEA to measure progress in the regulatory sector and to inform future NEA gender surveys
launching a coaching program pilot at the CNSC
advocating for gender equity through the active engagement of President Velshi and CNSC staff in over 30 events
These efforts under the WISTEM initiative serve to support the Government of Canada’s contribution to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,Footnote 11 specifically Goal 5 – Gender Equality, and Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities.
The CNSC continues to take the necessary steps to ensure that it is an agile organization – one that is flexible and inclusive, with an empowered and equipped workforce able to quickly adapt to an evolving operating environment.
In 2022–23, the CNSC:
established the Transformation Management Office (TMO) to oversee the development, implementation and progress of major transformation initiatives at the CNSC over the next 3 years, including those highlighted through the internal strategic review
the TMO will provide oversight, support and integrated information for decision making on projects that impact core program delivery and key organizational priorities
the plan was reviewed by the CNSC’s Accessibility Plan Working Group, in consultation with people living with disabilities and with their allies, to identify barriers to accessibility within the work environment
developed the Working Alone Directive in response to a changing workplace and the fact that more employees are now working alone with the transition to a flexible hybrid work model
the directive was approved in November and fulfills the CNSC’s duty as an employer under the Canada Labour Code, as well as the requirements of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations’ Hazard Prevention Program and of the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations
the directive also supports the CNSC’s overall safety culture and its objective to create a safe, healthy and inclusive workplace for all employees
launched a pilot career progression program for regional inspectors
the objective of this pilot is to provide advancement opportunities and give managers a flexible way to manage their workforce
work is already underway to expand the pilot to other areas within the organization
For more information on the CNSC’s plans, priorities and results achieved, see the “Results: what we achieved” section of this report.
The CNSC regulates the development, production and use of nuclear energy and substances to protect the health, safety, security of persons and the environment; implements Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and disseminates objective scientific and regulatory information to members of the public. The CNSC maintains a regulatory framework and conducts licensing (including environmental protection reviews), compliance verification and enforcement. The CNSC is committed to building and maintaining the confidence of the public and Indigenous peoples through transparent, open and inclusive regulatory processes.
Departmental result 1
The environment is protected from releases from nuclear facilities and activities.
Departmental result 2
Canadians are protected from radiation resulting from nuclear facilities and activities.
For the CNSC to achieve its planned results, risks must be identified, monitored and controlled across all nuclear facilities and activities by CNSC inspectors, who conduct compliance and licensing activities for nearly 1,700 licensees across various sectors.
To ensure that the environment is protected from radiological and hazardous releases from nuclear facilities and activities, and to ensure that Canadians are protected from radiation resulting from nuclear facilities and activities, in 2022–23, the CNSC:
continued the rigorous regulatory oversight in relation to the 2021 discovery of elevated hydrogen levels in pressure tubes. The CNSC’s decisive actions ensure that no operations will continue if the limits established under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and associated regulations to protect the public and the environment are exceeded. During a November 2022 public meeting, the Commission was provided with updates from licensees and CNSC staff regarding research, predictive modelling, evaluation tools and regulatory oversight. The meeting also gave interested members of the public the opportunity to provide feedback to the Commission. CNSC staff continue to monitor industry progress and are preparing an update for a public Commission meeting in the fall
maintained regulatory oversight of Bruce Power’sFootnote 1 Unit 6 major component replacement (MCR), where return-to-service activities continue, and began Unit 3 MCR activities, such as defuelling and isolating the reactor and removing old components
Unit 1 refurbishment began in February 2022 and is nearing the end of the removal phase; the refurbishment of Darlington Units 1 and 3 is progressing according to schedule, with regular compliance inspections being performed as planned
completed a licence renewal process for the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station (PLNGS)
the Commission granted a 10-year operating licence to the PLNGS on June 21, 2022, and issued a record of decision in October 2022
received notification from Ontario Power Generation (OPG) in December 2022 that it intends to request Commission authorization to operate Pickering Units 5 to 8 until September 30, 2026, while Units 1 and 4 will shut down as planned in 2024
OPG’s application, due in June 2023, will be heard by the Commission at a public hearing tentatively scheduled for June 2024; CNSC staff will review OPG’s safety case for this request and will make recommendations to the Commission, which will make the final decision
continued to prepare to regulate the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)Footnote 20 Adaptive Phased Management approach, which will site and develop a deep geological repository for the long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel
as part of this preparation, the CNSC continued to identify regulatory requirements for geological disposal and participated in public meetings to provide information on the CNSC's role as per the service arrangementFootnote 21
the CNSC has also continued independent and internationally collaborative research focusing on long-term safety issues related to the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel in both crystalline and sedimentary rock formations
The CNSC continues to collaborate with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) under the existing memorandum of understanding to develop tools and clarify roles in advance of the first impact assessment for nuclear-designated projects. To ensure future readiness, the CNSC and the IAAC are hosting workshops with proponents to discuss the impact assessment (IA) process and how it will apply to their potential projects. Among the efficiencies being explored are leveraging work early in the process to better understand issues and concerns from key partners, preparing updated tailored guidelines for the nuclear sector, and recognizing the potential to use existing information and studies. The collaborative work with the IAAC also includes encouraging early and ongoing dialogue between the CNSC and the IAAC, creating strong relationships with Indigenous peoples, and identifying other potential efficiencies while also ensuring a robust and transparent IA process.
To ensure consistency in licensing and compliance verification, the CNSC’s regulatory framework and environmental assessment requirements must be clear and understood by proponents and licensees. The regulatory framework consists of lawsFootnote 24passed by Parliament, regulations, and licences and regulatory documents that are used to regulate Canada’s nuclear industry. In 2022–23, the CNSC published 5regulatory documents.Footnote 25 Regulatory documents clarify the CNSC’s requirements and may contain practical guidance to licensees and applicants on how to meet the CNSC’s regulatory requirements. Such guidance can include information on possible approaches to the design of nuclear facilities, the design and implementation of required management and operational programs, and forms for applying for licences or reporting information to the Commission.
The CNSC’s Independent Environmental Monitoring ProgramFootnote 26 (IEMP) helps verify that the public and the environment around CNSC-regulated nuclear facilities are not adversely affected by releases to the environment. The IEMP complements the ongoing compliance verification program and involves taking samples from public areas around nuclear facilities. These samples are measured and analyzed to determine the amount of radiological and hazardous substances and compared to guidelines. The CNSC continues to post IEMP sampling data and resulting conclusions on its website.26 This work serves to support the Government of Canada’s contribution to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,11 particularly Goal 3, which focuses on good health and well-being.
The CNSC and its laboratory remain involved in the TerraCanada Science and Innovation Hub, which is part of a federal government–wide initiativeFootnote 27 to both modernize science infrastructure and enhance collaboration among scientists. In 2022–23, it was announced that the CNSC would move forward with NRCan in the first stage of the initiative. As a result, the CNSC continues to contribute to over 20 committees, participating at many levels to help plan the laboratory relocation with TerraCanada and LabsCanada.
Departmental result 3
Nuclear material and substances, facilities and activities are secure and used for peaceful purposes.
Through the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), the CNSC implements Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The CNSC implements regulatory programs to ensure that CNSC licensees and Canada at large meet the obligations arising from Canada’s international safeguards agreements with the IAEA. Safeguards conclusions drawn by the IAEA assure Canadians and the international community that all nuclear materials in Canada are used for peaceful purposes.
The exports of significant nuclear items are made subject to nuclear cooperation agreements (NCAs).Footnote 28 These are treaty-level agreements designed to minimize the proliferation risk associated with international transfers of nuclear items. The CNSC implements the terms and conditions of NCAs through administrative arrangementsFootnote 28 with its regulatory counterparts in partner countries. The CNSC also implements a licensing and compliance program to ensure that imports and exports of nuclear substances, prescribed equipment and prescribed information (technology) meet regulatory requirements. This allows the CNSC to meet Canada's nuclear non-proliferationFootnote 29 policy and international obligations and commitments.
Being prepared in the event of an emergency is an essential part of being a responsible nuclear regulator. Nuclear emergency management is a shared responsibility in Canada, and the CNSC has a comprehensive emergency management program in place. The CNSC works with nuclear operators, all levels of government and other stakeholders, including international organizations, to ensure readiness. In 2022–23, the CNSC:
participated with Bruce Power, provincial and municipal authorities, and federal partners in a full-scale emergency exercise in October 2022 based at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station
continued to chair the Potassium Iodide (KI) Pill Working Group
a new approach for Phase II of the KI Pill Working Group was adopted in November 2022
Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) will take the lead and capture the Phase II objectives in the 2023 update to the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan (PNERP)
the Working Group will support EMO and provide input into how the Phase II objectives are considered in the updated PNERP
Phase II objectives include the development of a strategy for the emergency distribution of KI pills and an examination of the advisability of KI pill pre-distribution to all schools in the Ingestion Planning Zone (50 km radius)
Modernizing the CNSC’s Nuclear Security Regulations
Nuclear security is a major consideration in all CNSC activities. The CNSC is responsible for enforcing Canada’s Nuclear Security Regulations (NSR) and works closely with nuclear operators, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, international organizations and other government departments to ensure that nuclear materials and facilities are adequately protected. Cyber security remains an important and evolving issue. The CNSC is responsible for enforcing cyber security regulatory requirements to ensure that nuclear facilities continue to protect their cyber assets. In 2022–23, the CNSC:
published draft amendments to the NSR in the Canada Gazette, Part I, from November 1, 2022, to January 11, 2023
hosted a workshop with industry stakeholders in March 2023 to follow up on industry stakeholder comments in the Canada Gazette, Part I
the path forward will involve the publication of a stakeholder workshop report and additional consultation with stakeholders on revised policy proposals
published a discussion paper on the revised nuclear security series of regulatory documents; the comments provided by stakeholders will inform the development of revised regulatory documents, which will in turn provide clarification and guidance on meeting the requirements of the amended NSR
completed an internal audit and evaluation of the CNSC’s regulation of cyber security, and identified areas that still require improvement
Departmental result 4
Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, have meaningful information about, and the opportunity to participate in, the nuclear regulatory process.
In 2022-23, the CNSC
Paid out $2,142,686.13 to 143 recipients, the majority being Indigenous Nations and communities.
The CNSC is a proactive regulator that supports participation by members of the public and Indigenous Nations and communities in the CNSC’s regulatory processes. Public hearings and meetings are open to the public, are sometimes held in the host community and are always webcast live on the CNSC’s website. In addition, the CNSC offers funding through its Participant Funding Program (PFP) to help support the participation of Indigenous Nations and communities, members of the public, and stakeholders in bringing valuable information to the Commission. This is recognized internationally as a best practice to emulate. Learn more about the PFPFootnote 33 and watch a short CNSC videoFootnote 34 about it by visiting the CNSC website.
In 2022-23, the CNSC
Held over 300 meetings with 52 Indigenous groups representing over 100 different Indigenous Nations and communities.
To ensure that Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, have meaningful information about, and the opportunity to participate in, the nuclear regulatory process in 2022–23, the CNSC continued to:
efforts are ongoing to identify other platforms or tools that could be used to facilitate the CNSC’s online consultation
explore tools to support its efforts to digitize the regulatory framework
staff evaluated a software tool that could be used to modernize the development of regulatory documents through a proof of concept; the evaluation was completed in February 2023, and the team’s findings were submitted to management for consideration
In 2022-23, the CNSC
Had over 438 participants across 9 “Meet the Nuclear Regulator” sessions.
The CNSC welcomes input from the public and Indigenous groups on draft regulatory documents that are open for consultation on Let’s Talk Nuclear Safety.Footnote 36 Each draft regulatory document open for public comment is made available for a specified period of time (at least 30 days). At the end of the consultation period, CNSC staff review all input and comments are posted for feedback on the CNSC website. The consultation sectionFootnote 36 of the CNSC website provides up-to-date information on current consultations for regulatory initiatives, and the necessary information and guidance on how to participate. In 2022–23, the CNSC posted 5 regulatory documents for public consultation, and 29 people provided comments.
Through “Meet the Nuclear Regulator” sessions, CNSC experts offer the public an opportunity to learn about how to participate in the licensing process, in order to build understanding of and public confidence in Canada’s nuclear regulation. To participate in an upcoming “Meet the Nuclear Regulator” or webinar session,Footnote 37 visit the CNSC website.
In 2022-23, the CNSC
Responded to 687 public information inquiries and 56 media inquiries, posted 11 feature articles to its website and disseminated 20 new publications.
Furthermore, the CNSC frequently participates in community outreach and engagement activities and responds to media calls and public information inquiries. As an agent of the Crown, the CNSC has an important responsibility to engage and consult with interested Indigenous groups and is committed to developing long-term positive relationships with these communities.
Disseminating information is part of the CNSC’s mandate, but that information also has to be accessible and understood. One goal of the CNSC’s web and social media platforms – YouTube,Footnote 38Facebook,Footnote 39LinkedInFootnote 40 and TwitterFootnote 41 – is to provide technical information in plain language that explains complicated nuclear science in simple terms. The CNSC continues to dedicate resources to its social media engagement, not only to share information, but also to answer questions from followers, often with the assistance of a subject-matter expert.
The CNSC maintains research initiatives and programs to ensure that it keeps abreast of new scientific information, develops its own knowledge base and shares its research findings with stakeholders and scientists in Canada and abroad. The organization offers the public a comprehensive list of relevant scientific and technical informationFootnote 42 on its website. Topics can be searched according to the CNSC’s 14 safety and control areas (SCAs),Footnote 43 which are used to assess, evaluate, review, verify and report on regulatory requirements and performance. The SCAs are presented in a comprehensive framework and grouped into 3 primary functional areas: management; facility and equipment; and core control processes.
The CNSC funds an external research program to obtain knowledge and information needed to support its regulatory mission. The outcome of these research activities helps the CNSC understand and address new or emerging safety issues, gain third-party perspectives on nuclear science, and share scientific knowledge with the nuclear industry and the public at large. For more information on the outcomes of this program, visit the CNSC’s website.Footnote 44
The CNSC, as well as licensees, continue to make progress in ensuring documents and reports are made readily available online to members of the public, including documents submitted for Commission proceedings, which can be found on the CNSC’s website.Footnote 45 Specifically, in 2022–23, the CNSC:
In 2022-23, the CNSC
Posted 1,677 times on social media channels and engaged with the public through these platforms 28,486 times.
developed an Open Government working group to gather an inventory on what data and information could be posted on the Open Government portal
a benchmarking exercise was also undertaken to understand how other departments work in terms of Open Government
currently, the CNSC is drafting an Open Government implementation plan to best structure the organization and the process for posting to the portal
posted 6 new environmental protection review reports to the federal Open Government portal and engaged with NRCan to make these reports available through its Open Science and Data Platform
the licensee radionuclide release database continues to be updated annually on the federal Open Government portal
in 2022, active links were established to connect the National Pollutant Release Inventory website and the CNSC facility-specific web pages with the radionuclide database hosted on the Open Government portal
the radionuclide release database on the portal was also geospatially mapped and coded so that it is searchable and obtainable under the NRCan Open Science and Data Platform
created an internal working group to explore the best approach for improving regulatory oversight reports (RORs)
the goal is to develop better internal guidance to ensure that RORs provide clearer, more focused information for the Commission, as well as to leverage existing communication tools and other relevant mechanisms that would strengthen Indigenous and public outreach and engagement activities
changes to the current process and the format of the RORs will take effect once the necessary mechanisms are in place; these changes are anticipated for the 2023 RORs, which will be presented to the Commission in 2024
Research and Support Program: $3,308,934
$1,123,348 invested in 29 research contracts
$2,116,087 invested in 36 contribution agreements
$69,500 put towards 8 grants
Results achieved
The following table shows, for Nuclear regulation, the results achieved, the performance indicators, the targets and the target dates for 2022–23, and the actual results for the three most recent fiscal years for which actual results are available.
Table 1: The environment is protected from releases from nuclear facilities and activities.
Departmental result indicators
Target
Date to achieve target
2020–21 Actual results
2021–22 Actual results
2022–23 Actual results
Number of instances of radiological releases that exceeded regulatory limits
0
March 31, 2023
0
0
0
Number of instances of hazardous releases that exceeded regulatory limits
≤ 5
March 31, 2023
2
0
2
Percentage of Independent Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP) samples (food, water, air and vegetation) that met guidelines
Table 3: Nuclear material and substances, facilities and activities are secure and used for peaceful purposes.
Departmental result indicators
Target
Date to achieve target
2020–21 Actual results
2021–22 Actual results
2022–23 Actual results
Number of instances of non-peaceful or malicious use of Canadian exports of nuclear substances, equipment and information
0
March 31, 2023
0
0
0
Number of lost or stolen radioactive sealed sources
≤ 2
March 31, 2023
0
0
0
Canada’s international commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with respect to nuclear safeguards and verification are met
IAEA broader conclusion
December 31, 2022
Met
Met
Met
Table 4: Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, have meaningful information about, and the opportunity to participate in, the nuclear regulatory process.
Departmental result indicators
Target
Date to achieve target
2020–21 Actual results
2021–22 Actual results
2022–23 Actual results
Percentage of Commission proceedings that were accessible to members of the public and Indigenous peoples
˃ 90%
March 31, 2023
100%
92%
95%
Percentage of Commission proceedings for which the Participant Funding Program (PFP) was made available to members of the public and Indigenous peoples
˃ 90%
March 31, 2023
100%
100%
100%
Percentage of Commission proceedings documents that were available in a timely manner on the CNSC external website upon request by members of the public and Indigenous peoples
˃ 90%
March 31, 2023
100%
95%
95%
Number of self-identified Indigenous groups and organizations who participated in CNSC proceedings
Financial, human resources and performance information for the CNSC’s Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.Footnote 49
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
The following table shows, for Nuclear regulation, budgetary spending for 2022–23, as well as actual spending for that year.
2022–23 Main Estimates
2022–23 Planned spending
2022–23 Total authorities available for use
2022–23 Actual spending (authorities used)
2022–23 Difference (Actual spending minus Planned spending)
96,985,453
104,496,124
115,303,643
102,591,286
(1,904,838)
Financial, human resources and performance information for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.Footnote 50
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
The following table shows, in full-time equivalents, the human resources the department needed to fulfill this core responsibility for 2022–23.
2022–23 Planned full-time equivalents
2022–23 Actual full-time equivalents
2022–23 Difference (Actual full-time equivalents minus Planned full-time equivalents)
613
617
4
Financial, human resources and performance information for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.Footnote 50
Internal services
Description
Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct services that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the internal services delivery model in a department. These are:
management and oversight Services
communications services
corporate security services
legal services
human resources management services
financial management services
information management services
information technology services
materiel management services
acquisition management services
Enabling a hybrid workforce
The CNSC continues to work as a hybrid workforce and is modernizing its physical offices as well as its IM/IT infrastructure and services to ensure effective work experiences for employees. For example, the CNSC continues to renovate its office space portfolio to meet GCworkplace standards. By fall 2023, approximately 75% of the office space portfolio in the National Capital Region will be fully converted to the new standards, with unassigned seating layouts.
In 2022–23, the CNSC also moved forward with its Digital Strategy, including launching the Digital Workspace to the organization and initiating work to modernize core data and support services for licensing, compliance and certification.
Results highlights
Prioritizing equity, diversity and inclusion remains a fundamental commitment at the CNSC, as bringing together diverse voices and perspectives strengthens the organization and increases innovation, while ensuring that employees feel safe and empowered to grow and do their best work. To enable equity, diversity and inclusion, in 2022–23, the CNSC:
hosted its first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Fair with several presentations for employees, while also launching 3 new employee networks – the Diverse Employee Network, the Pride Network and the Accessibility Network
nearly 700 staff members attended the fair and were provided with a safe space to ask questions, create networking opportunities, and continue building a community for equity-seeking groups
launched the Advisory Council on Inclusion in September 2022 to advocate for members of equity-seeking groups, employee networks and CNSC staff through open discussion and transparent decision-making processes
the focus has been on the governance structure of the new Council, with facilitated visioning sessions taking place to finalize the mandate
the focus of the Council for the upcoming fiscal year will be to provide guidance on the drafting of the new strategic plan for equity, diversity and inclusion
continued work on the pay equity plan project, including forming the CNSC Pay Equity Committee
in accordance with the Pay Equity Act,Footnote 51 the CNSC needs to establish a pay equity plan by September 3, 2024, to identify, and where it exists, correct gender wage gaps within the organization
Contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses
The CNSC is a Phase 2 organization and is aiming to achieve the minimum 5% target by the end of 2023–24. In order to achieve this target, the CNSC will:
implement procurement strategies to increase opportunities for Indigenous businesses
develop an Indigenous business outreach strategy
establish a process to monitor and report on performance
ensure that procurement personnel have the required training
Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2022–23 Main Estimates
2022–23 Planned spending
2022–23 Total authorities available for use
2022–23 Actual spending (authorities used)
2022–23 Difference (Actual spending minus Planned spending)
46,696,700
50,312,948
53,031,858
50,374,879
61,931
Human resources (full-time equivalents)
The following table shows, in full-time equivalents, the human resources the department needed to carry out its internal services for 2022–23.
2022–23 Planned full-time equivalents
2022–23 Actual full-time equivalents
2022–23 Difference (Actual full-time equivalents minus Planned full-time equivalents)
284
291
7
Spending and human resources
Spending
The following graph presents planned (voted and statutory spending) over time.
Departmental spending trend graph: Text version
Spending 2020–21 to 2025–26
Fiscal year
Total
Voted
Statutory
2020–21
139,527,021
34,910,780
104,616,241
2021–22
143,540,298
35,111,799
108,428,499
2022–23
152,966,165
40,887,209
112,078,956
2023–24
170,463,816
51,986,215
118,477,601
2024–25
172,895,571
52,922,362
119,973,209
2025–26
174,634,414
52,602,389
122,032,025
The CNSC is financed by the Government of Canada through voted parliamentary and statutory authorities. Included in the statutory appropriation is a revenue-spending authority, which allows the CNSC to spend most licence-fee revenue, as well as funding for contributions to employee benefit plans. The voted authority provides funding for the activities of licensees exempt from paying fees (that is, hospitals and universities) and for activities relating to Canada’s international obligations (including non-proliferation activities), public responsibilities such as emergency management and public information programs, and the updating of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and its associated regulations.
The budgetary performance summary section provides variance explanations on year-to-year fluctuations in spending.
Budgetary performance summary for core responsibility and internal services (dollars)
The “Budgetary performance summary for core responsibilities and internal services” table presents the budgetary financial resources allocated for the CNSC’s core responsibilities and for internal services.
Core responsibilities and internal services
2022–23 Main Estimates
2022–23 planned spending
2023–24 planned spending
2024–25 planned spending
2022–23 total authorities available for use
2020–21 actual spending (authorities used)
2021–22 actual spending (authorities used)
2022–23 actual spending (authorities used)
Nuclear Regulation
96,985,453
104,496,124
116,574,133
118,614,657
115,303,643
92,862,646
96,598,106
102,591,286
Subtotal
96,985,453
104,496,124
116,574,133
118,614,657
115,303,643
92,862,646
96,598,106
102,591,286
Internal Services
46,696,700
50,312,948
53,889,683
54,280,914
53,031,858
46,664,375
46,942,192
50,374,879
Total
143,682,153
154,809,072
170,463,816
172,895,571
168,335,501
139,527,021
143,590,298
152,966,165
The CNSC’s Main Estimates for fiscal year 2022–23 totalled $143.7 million, compared to total authorities of $168.3 million. The $24.6 million in additional authorities is primarily attributable to:
contributions to employee benefit plans for personnel expenditures related to subsection 21(3) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act that are not included in the 2022–23 Main Estimates: $10.3 million
funds received from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) through the Impact Assessment Renewal Initiative for the establishment of a new grants and contributions program, called the Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund, and an increase in the funding envelope for the existing Participant Funding Program: $3.6 million
funds received from TBS to expand the CNSC’s technical ability, capacity and competency to regulate small modular reactors (SMRs): $3.3 million
an increase in revenue spending authority mainly stemming from revenue available for use in future years that was not reflected in the 2022–23 Main Estimates: $3.3 million
an operating budget carry-forward from 2021–22 to 2022–23: $1.9 million
funds received from TBS for the cumulative impact of retroactive economic increases for executives: $1.4 million
funds reprofiled from 2021–22 to 2022–23 based on anticipated operational requirements: $0.8 million
The $4.1 million increase in actual spending from $139.5 million in 2020–21 to $143.6 million in 2021–22 is due mainly to an increase in personnel costs resulting from a rise in the use of full-time equivalents (FTEs) and to economic increases, including retroactive payments.
The $9.4 million increase in actual spending from $143.6 million in 2021–22 to $153.0 million in 2022–23 is due mainly to:
an increase in travel expenses attributable to the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions: $4.3 million
an increase in personnel costs resulting from a rise in FTE use, partially offset by retroactive payments made in 2021–22: $1.7 million
an increase in transfer payments resulting from increased activity in the Participant Funding Program and the Research and Support Program: $1.4 million
an increase in professional and special services, primarily information technology services: $0.9 million
a net increase in other expenditure categories primarily as a result of a return to pre-COVID-19 expenditure levels: $1.1 million
There was minimal variance between actual spending of $153.0 million in 2022–23 and planned spending of $154.8 million.
The CNSC’s planned spending is forecasted to increase by $17.5 million to $170.5 million in 2023–24, compared to actual spending of $153.0 million in 2022–23, as a result of funding received for SMRs; the implementation of the Impact Assessment Act; cost-of-living increases, including salary and wages; and a projected higher level of staffed positions. Planned spending is forecasted to increase to $172.9 million in 2024–25 as a result of projected cost-of-living increases.
Human resources
The “Human resources summary for core responsibility and internal services” table presents the full-time equivalents (FTEs) allocated to the CNSC’s core responsibility and to internal services.
Human resources summary for core responsibility and internal services
Core responsibilities and Internal Services
2020–21 Actual full-time equivalents
2021–22 Actual full-time equivalents
2022–23 Planned full-time equivalents
2022–23 Actual full-time equivalents
2023–24 Planned full-time equivalents
2024–25 Planned full-time equivalents
Nuclear regulation
581
592
613
617
682
678
Subtotal
581
592
613
617
682
678
Internal Services
269
279
284
291
301
300
Total
850
871
897
908
983
978
The increase in FTEs from 850 in 2020–21 to 871 in 2021–22 is primarily a result of the staffing of vacant positions. The increase in FTEs from 871 in 2021–22 to 908 in 2022–23 is a result of SMR readiness activities and the continued staffing of vacant positions.
Actual FTEs of 908 in 2022–23 exceeded planned FTEs of 897, which did not include staffing related to SMR readiness.
As published in the 2023–24 Departmental Plan, the planned increase from 908 FTEs in 2022–23 to 983 FTEs in 2023–24 is due to the full-year impact of the 2022–23 staffing actions related to SMR regulatory readiness, the new grants and contributions programs, and the continued staffing of vacant positions. The FTE forecast anticipates a marginal decrease from 983 FTEs in 2023–24 to 978 FTEs in 2024–25.
Information on the alignment of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s spending with Government of Canada’s spending and activities is available in GC InfoBase.Footnote 50
Financial statements and financial statements highlights
Financial statements
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s financial statements (audited) for the year ended March 31, 2023 are available on the departmental website.Footnote 53
Financial statement highlights
Table 10: Condensed Statement of Operations (unaudited) for the year ending March 31, 2023 (dollars)
Financial information
2022–23 Planned results
2022–23 Actual results
2021–22 Actual results
Difference (2022–23 Actual results minus 2022–23 Planned results)
Difference (2022–23 Actual results minus 2021–22 Actual results)
Total expenses
169,616,000
177,280,599
157,653,268
7,664,599
19,627,331
Total revenues
123,991,000
126,577,756
115,676,030
2,586,756
10,901,726
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers
45,625,000
50,702,843
41,977,238
5,077,843
8,725,605
The total actual expenses of $177.3 million were $7.7 million or 4.5% more than planned expenditures of $169.6 million mainly because of:
greater-than-planned personnel costs resulting from an accrual for projected collective agreement increases and greater-than-planned FTE use: $6.6 million
an increase in transfer payments primarily as a result of incremental funding received for the Participant Funding Program: $1.4 million
a net decrease in other expenditure categories: $0.3 million
The actual total revenues of $126.6 million were $2.6 million or 2.1% greater than planned revenues of $124.0 million.
The CNSC’s total expenses increased from 2021–22 to 2022–23 by $19.6 million or 12.5%, mainly due to:
an increase in personnel costs resulting from an accrual for projected collective agreement increases and an increase in FTE use: $11.7 million
an increase in travel attributable to the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions: $4.1 million
an increase in professional and special services primarily resulting from an increase in information technology services, including the costs of services provided without charge by Shared Services Canada: $2.0 million
an increase in furniture, repairs and rentals primarily as a result of the purchase of computer equipment to upgrade tablets used by staff: $1.3 million
a net increase in other expenditure categories: $0.5 million
The CNSC’s revenues increased by $10.9 million or 9.4% due to increased levels of spending and the resulting cost recovery.
The net cost of operations increased by $8.7 million or 20.8% due to increased levels of spending, including on SMR readiness activities and the implementation of the Impact Assessment Renewal Initiative.
Table 11: Condensed Statement of Financial Position (unaudited) as of March 31, 2023 (dollars)
Financial information
2022–23
2021–22
Difference (2022–23 minus 2021–22)
Total net liabilities
46,477,900
50,753,285
(4,275,385)
Total net financial assets
30,532,919
34,533,170
(4,000,251)
Departmental net debt
15,944,981
16,220,115
(275,134)
Total non-financial assets
8,934,668
9,973,337
(1,038,669)
Departmental net financial position
(7,010,313)
(6,246,778)
763,535
The decrease of $4.3 million in the CNSC’s net liabilities is mainly due to a decrease in the amount of year-end refunds payable to licensees for the excess collection of fee charges over actual fees at year-end, partially offset by an increase in salaries and wages payable.
The decrease of $4.0 million in the CNSC’s net financial assets is the result of a decrease in the amount due from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is an amount due from the federal government and may be disbursed without further charges to the CNSC’s authorities.
The decrease of $0.3 million in departmental net debt is a result of the increase in net liabilities, offset by a decrease in total net financial assets.
The decrease of $1.1 million in non-financial assets is a result of a decrease in the net book value of tangible capital assets, as amortization expenses exceeded the cost of new capital acquisitions.
The increase of $0.8 million in the CNSC’s departmental net financial position is the difference between the total non-financial assets and the departmental net debt.
Other: The CNSC’s headquarters is located in Ottawa, Ontario. The CNSC maintains 11 regional offices, both at major facilities and elsewhere, in order to conduct inspections of licensees across the country on a regular basis.
Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s Departmental Results Framework and Program Inventory of record for 2022–23 are shown below.
Core Responsibility: Nuclear Regulation
Description: The CNSC regulates the development, production and use of nuclear energy and substances to protect health, safety, security of persons and the environment; implements Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy; and disseminates objective scientific and regulatory information to members of the public. The CNSC maintains a regulatory framework and conducts licensing (including environmental protection reviews), compliance verification and enforcement. The CNSC is committed to building and maintaining the confidence of the public and Indigenous peoples through transparent, open and inclusive regulatory processes.
Departmental Results
Indicators
R 1: The environment is protected from releases from nuclear facilities and activities.
Number of instances of radiological releases that exceeded regulatory limits
Number of instances of hazardous releases that exceeded regulatory limits
Percentage of Independent Environmental Monitoring Program (IEMP) samples (food, water, air, soil, sediment, sand and vegetation) that met guidelines
R 2: Canadians are protected from radiation resulting from nuclear facilities and activities.
Number of radiation doses to members of the public that exceeded regulatory limits
Number of radiation doses to workers that exceeded regulatory limits
R 3: Nuclear material and substances, facilities and activities are secure and used for peaceful purposes.
Number of instances of non-peaceful or malicious use of Canadian exports of nuclear substances, equipment and information
Number of lost or stolen radioactive sealed sources
Canada’s international commitments to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with respect to nuclear safeguards and verification are met
R 4: Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, have meaningful information about, and the opportunity to participate in, the nuclear regulatory process.
Percentage of CNSC proceedings that were accessible to members of the public and Indigenous peoples
Percentage of CNSC proceedings for which the Participant Funding Program (PFP) was made available to members of the public and Indigenous peoples
Percentage of public proceedings documents that were available in a timely manner upon request by members of the public and Indigenous peoples
Number of self-identified Indigenous groups and organizations who participated in CNSC proceedings
Program Inventory
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear Substances and Prescribed Equipment
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information
Internal Services
Supporting information on the program inventory
Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s program inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.Footnote 42
Response to parliamentary committees and external audits
Federal tax expenditures
The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures.Footnote 58 This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs as well as evaluations and GBA Plus of tax expenditures.
Organizational contact information
Mailing address
Head office
280 Slater St
PO Box 1046 Stn B
Ottawa ON K1P 5S9
Canada
Any authority of Parliament to pay money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Budgetary expenditures (dépenses budgétaires)
Operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.
Core responsibility (responsabilité essentielle)
An enduring function or role performed by a department. The intentions of the department with respect to a core responsibility are reflected in one or more related departmental results that the department seeks to contribute to or influence.
Departmental Plan (plan ministériel)
A report on the plans and expected performance of an appropriated department over a 3-year period. Departmental Plans are tabled in Parliament each spring.
Departmental priority (priorité)
A plan or project that a department has chosen to focus and report on during the planning period. Priorities represent the things that are most important or what must be done first to support the achievement of the desired departmental results.
Departmental result (résultat ministériel)
A consequence or outcome that a department seeks to achieve. A departmental result is often outside departments’ immediate control, but it should be influenced by program-level outcomes.
Departmental result indicator (indicateur de résultat ministériel)
A quantitative measure of progress on a departmental result.
Departmental results framework (cadre ministériel des résultats)
A framework that connects the department’s core responsibilities to its departmental results and departmental result indicators.
Departmental results report (rapport sur les résultats ministériels)
A report on a department’s actual accomplishments against the plans, priorities and expected results set out in the corresponding Departmental Plan.
Experimentation (expérimentation)
The conducting of activities that seek to first explore, then test and compare the effects and impacts of policies and interventions in order to inform evidence-based decision-making, and improve outcomes for Canadians, by learning what works, for whom and in what circumstances. Experimentation is related to, but distinct from innovation (the trying of new things), because it involves a rigorous comparison of results. For example, using a new website to communicate with Canadians can be an innovation; systematically testing the new website against existing outreach tools or an old website to see which one leads to more engagement, is experimentation.
Full-time equivalent (équivalent temps plein)
A measure of the extent to which an employee represents a full person year charge against a departmental budget. For a particular position, the full time equivalent figure is the ratio of number of hours the person actually works divided by the standard number of hours set out in the person’s collective agreement.
Gender-based analysis plus (gba+) (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus [acs+])
An analytical tool used to support the development of responsive and inclusive policies, programs and other initiatives; and understand how factors such as sex, race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic conditions, geography, culture and disability, impact experiences and outcomes, and can affect access to and experience of government programs.
For the purpose of the 2021–22 Departmental Results Report, government-wide priorities refers to those high-level themes outlining the government’s agenda in the 2020 Speech from the Throne, namely: Protecting Canadians from COVID-19; Helping Canadians through the pandemic; Building back better – a resiliency agenda for the middle class; The Canada we’re fighting for.
Horizontal initiative (initiative horizontale)
An initiative where two or more departments are given funding to pursue a shared outcome, often linked to a government priority.
Non-budgetary expenditures (dépenses non budgétaires)
Net outlays and receipts related to loans, investments and advances, which change the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.
Performance (rendement)
What an organization did with its resources to achieve its results, how well those results compare to what the organization intended to achieve, and how well lessons learned have been identified.
Performance indicator (indicateur de rendement)
A qualitative or quantitative means of measuring an output or outcome, with the intention of gauging the performance of an organization, program, policy or initiative respecting expected results.
Performance reporting (production de rapports sur le rendement)
The process of communicating evidence-based performance information. Performance reporting supports decision-making, accountability and transparency.
Plan (plan)
The articulation of strategic choices, which provides information on how an organization intends to achieve its priorities and associated results. Generally, a plan will explain the logic behind the strategies chosen and tend to focus on actions that lead up to the expected result.
Planned spending (dépenses prévues)
For Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, planned spending refers to those amounts presented in Main Estimates.
A department is expected to be aware of the authorities that it has sought and received. The determination of planned spending is a departmental responsibility, and departments must be able to defend the expenditure and accrual numbers presented in their Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.
Program (programme)
Individual or groups of services, activities or combinations thereof that are managed together within the department and focus on a specific set of outputs, outcomes or service levels.
Program inventory (répertoire des programmes)
Identifies all the department’s programs and describes how resources are organized to contribute to the department’s core responsibilities and results.
Result (résultat)
A consequence attributed, in part, to an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results are not within the control of a single organization, policy, program or initiative; instead they are within the area of the organization’s influence.
Statutory expenditures (dépenses législatives)
Expenditures that Parliament has approved through legislation other than appropriation acts. The legislation sets out the purpose of the expenditures and the terms and conditions under which they may be made.
Target (cible)
A measurable performance or success level that an organization, program or initiative plans to achieve within a specified time period. Targets can be either quantitative or qualitative.
Voted expenditures (dépenses votées)
Expenditures that Parliament approves annually through an appropriation act. The vote wording becomes the governing conditions under which these expenditures may be made.
In fiscal year 2020–21, 94.9% of IEMP results met the guidelines. Exceedances for the 2020–21 fiscal year were expected, and similar to the values reported by CNSC licensees’ environmental monitoring programs. No unexpected exceedances were noted. There were 3 exceedances at Port Hope Conversion Facility. Three fluoride concentrations measured in lake water samples were slightly above the CCME freshwater quality guideline for the protection of aquatic life but were below Health Canada's guidelines for drinking water quality and well below the CCME toxicity benchmark for sensitive aquatic biota. Thus, adverse effects are not expected. There were 26 exceedances at Cigar Lake out of 468 samples. The exceedances were selenium and polonium-210 in fish tissue samples collected at both the exposure station, which could potentially be impacted by the operation of the facility, and the reference station, which is not impacted by the operation of the facility. Thus, the exceedances are not attributed to the facility. These results were also within the natural background range for the region. Exceeding a guideline does not mean that there is an expected health impact; rather, it triggers a more in-depth assessment by CNSC staff to ensure that the health and safety of people and the environment are protected. In all noted cases, CNSC staff concluded that the public and environment are protected from ongoing releases from nuclear facilities and activities. More information in IEMP results for each site is available on the CNSC website.
In 2020–21, there were 3 occurrences of a worker exceeding a regulatory dose limit. The first instance involved a non-NEW who received an effective dose of 1.28 mSv, which exceeded the annual dose limit of 1 mSv/year. The second instance involved a non-NEW who received an effective dose of 1.3 mSv, which exceeded the annual dose limit of 1 mSv/year. This event was reported to the Commission in January 2021 in CMD 21-M10. The third instance involved a non-NEW who received an effective dose of 1.05 mSv, which exceeded the annual dose limit of 1 mSv/year. Note that there was a fourth event reported to the Commission in 2020/21, although the event occurred in 2019/20. This case involved a non-Nuclear Energy Worker (NEW) who recorded a non-occupational effective dose of 3.54 mSv on their dosimeter. This exceeded the annual dose limit for non-NEWs of 1 mSv/year. This event was reported to the Commission in September 2020 in CMD 20-M27. In all cases, there was no health effect to the worker from the exposures.
The decrease in Indigenous participation in 2020–21 relative to 2019–20 is due to less overall total number of proceedings, including public proceedings because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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