Nuclear Substance Processing

Nuclear substances are processed in Canada for industrial and medical purposes. Such activity is regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act.

There are two nuclear substance processing facilities operating in Canada:

• MDS Nordion, a division of MDS (Canada) Inc. in Ottawa, Ontario. MDS Nordion processes nuclear isotopes for health and life sciences and manufactures sealed sources for industrial applications.
• Shield Source Inc. in Peterborough, Ontario. Sheild Source uses tritium gas to manufacture self-luminous light sources.

SRB Technologies (Canada) Inc. (SRBT) in Pembroke, Ontario holds a licence to possess tritium, but is no longer licensed to process tritium. SRBT used tritium contained in sealed tubes to manufacture self-luminous light products. SRBT is currently assessing its future business strategy for this facility.

CNSC's licensing process for nuclear substance processing facilities follows the stages laid out in the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations , proceeding progressively through site preparation, construction, operating, decommissioning, and abandonment phases.

At each licensing stage, CNSC determines whether the licence applicant is qualified and has made adequate provisions for the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons, and the maintenance of national security.

Environmental assessments are carried out to determine, and help mitigate, foreseeable risks. Applicants must also demonstrate the required measures to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed. In general, Class I facilities follow ALARA principles- keeping radiation exposure to workers and public As Low As Reasonably Achievable.

If satisfied with the application submitted and the programs required for safe operation, CNSC may issue a licence that contains appropriate conditions. CNSC operating licences are for closed term periods, and are subject to renewal on the basis of compliance with the licence terms.

CNSC staff with specific technical expertise regularly visit licensed facilities to ensure compliance, and that facilities are operated safely and securely.

Another important aspect of CNSC oversight involves the protection of nuclear materials as part of our international obligations for nuclear safeguards. Canada has a national accounting system for nuclear materials, to help ensure no materials are lost or diverted for unauthorized uses.