Presentations 2009 - Archive

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Joint Meeting of AECL’s Project Risk Review Committee, and Science, Technology and Nuclear Oversight Committee

Summary: On November 24, 2009, President Binder gave a presentation entitled CNSC Issues Update to the Joint Meeting of AECL’s Project Risk Review Committee, and Science, Technology and Nuclear Oversight Committee.

President Binder discussed the Port Hope-area initiative, the risks associated with Generation-3 designs and provided an update on pre-project design reviews. He also spoke on the NRU – its return-to-service and its licensing/regulatory milestones. Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) licensing activities, the Isotope Supply Reliability Program (ISRP) and the Nuclear Legacy Liabilities Program (NLLP) were among the other topics discussed.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization

Summary: On November 24, 2009, President Binder gave a presentation to the Board members of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).

President Binder prefaced his presentation by giving an overview of the CNSC as Canada’s nuclear regulator. He spoke on the safe management of waste and the CNSC’s early involvement in disposal initiatives, noting its emphasis on safety. CNSC’s service arrangement and involvement with the NWMO’s Adaptive Phased Management Project was also discussed.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), Toronto Ontario

Summary: In his keynote address to the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), entitled Current Issues in the Nuclear Industry: The Regulator’s Reality, CNSC President Binder gave an overview of the challenges facing the nuclear sector worldwide. He also spoke in-depth on the challenges facing the CNSC and its response.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources

Summary: President Binder appeared before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources to give a presentation about the role of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (the CNSC) and the proposed Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act, Bill C-20.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder at the Nuclear Power in Society conference

Summary: The conference theme, Nuclear Power in Society: Finding the Balance, is aimed at fostering a constructive dialogue on the role that nuclear may play in a national and global strategy to help us adapt to the challenge of meeting society's energy needs while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder at the University of British Columbia

Summary: On October 8, 2009, President Binder gave a presentation at the University of British Columbia weekly colloquium of the Physics and Astronomy Department.

President Binder discussed nuclear power's role in a global context, nuclear power's role in Canada today, and the key challenges the CNSC faces in regulating the nuclear industry in Canada. Research in Canada and new technologies in the nuclear field were also discussed in order to shed light on the role nuclear power could play in the coming century.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Inter Jura Congress of the International Nuclear Law Association

Summary: On October 6, 2009, CNSC President Michael Binder made a presentation during the opening plenary session of the 19th biennial Nuclear Inter Jura Congress in Toronto, Ontario.

President Binder spoke about the CNSC’s involvement in regulating Canada’s nuclear sector and elaborated on the CNSC’s key objectives to support the organization’s vision: to be the best nuclear regulator in the world. 

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Board of Directors of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Summary: CNSC President Michael Binder gave a presentation to Atomic Energy Canada Limited Board members in Chalk River, Ontario. 

In his presentation, President Binder highlighted the CNSC's role as Canada’s nuclear regulator. He outlined the CNSC’s commitments to enhance its readiness and effectiveness to regulate Canada's nuclear industry and noted the challenges facing the CNSC.  He also discussed current major projects as well as the AECL status and updates.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Board of Directors of Ontario Power Generation

Summary:  CNSC President Michael Binder met with the Board of Directors of Ontario Power Generation in Darlington, Ontario.  In his presentation to the Board, President Binder gave an overview of events of the past year that have had an impact on the nuclear sector. 

He highlighted the CNSC's key objectives in support of its vision: an ongoing commitment to improvements, clarity of requirements and capacity for action.  He also noted the ongoing challenges that the CNSC faces and emphasized the CNSC will not compromise safety nor be an unnecessary bottleneck.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Women In Nuclear Conference in Washington, D.C.

Summary: CNSC President Michael Binder provided an overview of the CNSC as Canada’s nuclear regulator including some of the current issues facing nuclear regulation in Canada. He highlighted the role of women in Canada’s nuclear world.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources

Summary: President Binder appeared before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources to give a presentation on the Study of the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited Facility at Chalk River and the Status of the Production of Medical Isotopes.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder at the 2009 Canadian Nuclear Society Annual Conference)

Summary: On June 3, 2009, CNSC President Michael Binder was a moderator during a panel discussion on Energy and Nuclear Regulation in Canada at the Canadian Nuclear Society Conference in Calgary, Alberta. During his opening comments, President Binder facilitated an overview of the nuclear energy industry and related issues, such as effective and efficient regulatory oversight as well as transmission infrastructure and waste management, impacting the industry in Canada and abroad.

Presentation by President Michael Binder to Cameco Board of Directors

Summary: On Thursday, May 28, 2009, CNSC President Michael Binder met with the Board of Directors of Cameco Corporation in Saskatoon. In his presentation to the board, President Binder highlighted the CNSC's priorities and challenges as Canada’s nuclear regulator and the measures it has instituted to enhance its readiness and effectiveness to regulate Canada's nuclear industry and, in particular, its uranium sector. He also specifically discussed the various Cameco facilities licensed by the CNSC.

Presentation by President Michael Binder at Carleton University

The Regulator's Reality: Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the 2009 Canadian Nuclear Association Annual Conference

Summary: President Binder's presentation to the Canadian nuclear industry provided an overview of the CNSC's activities and accomplishments in order to assure the health, safety, security of Canadians, the protection of their environment and maintenance of Canada's international obligations in in 2008. He outlined the Commission's licensing activities, the NRU, new builds, refurbishments, on-going operations and renewal in 2008.

In looking forward, he provided an overview of the CNSC's guiding priorities -- Committed to ongoing improvements, Clarity of requirements, Capacity for action, Communications -- and repeated that, in fulfilling its mandate, the CNSC will not compromise nuclear safety.

• View videos of Speakers’ Presentations, including Mr. Binder’s presentation on the CNA Web site.

Presentation by CNSC President Michael Binder to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources
Presentation: The NRU Leak Data

Summary: President Binder appeared before the Standing Committee on Natural Resources to give a presentation about the Committee's examination of the activities of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) at Chalk River.

Presentation by Ramzi Jammal, Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer to the International Conference on Effective Nuclear Regulatory Systems – Further Enhancing the Global Nuclear Safety and Security Regime in Cape Town, South Africa.

Summary: Mr. Jammal spoke in detail about medical uses of nuclear substances in Canada.  He explained the regulatory oversight of medical facilities, noting the role of the CNSC and the various programs that it has in place to ensure peoples’ health, safety and security.  He also provided an update on the NRU and isotope production, and current and new technologies in cancer detection and treatment.

Presentation by Terry Jamieson, Vice-President Technical Support Branch, to the Canadian Nuclear Society Workshop on Medical-Radionuclide Production Methods, Ottawa

Summary: In his presentation on the Regulatory Aspects of Medical Isotope Production in Canada, Mr. Jamieson provided an overview of the roles that industry, the government and the medical community play in the supply of medical isotopes. He spoke in detail about the isotope proposals and review process, the regulation of isotope producing reactors, accelerators and processing facilities. Mr. Jamieson also gave an update on the NRU return-to-service and re-licensing.

Presentation by Terry Jamieson, Vice-President, Technical Support Branch during the 53rd Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna, Austria

Summary: In his presentation, Safeguarding CANDU Reactors: A Regulator’s Perspective, Mr. Jamieson spoke about the CNSC’s role and responsibility as Canada’s nuclear regulator for implementing safeguards as part of our international obligations. He noted CNSC’s close cooperation with the IAEA and how the IAEA’s safeguards approach to CANDU reactors has been effective over many years. This presentation was part of a special event on the safeguarding of CANDU reactors, during which presentations were made by DFAIT, AECL, CNSC and the IAEA.

Presentation by Terry Jamieson, Vice-President, Technical Support Branch to NEA/MDEP Conference in Paris, France

Summary: Mr. Jamieson spoke to the conference attendees about the status of the new build program in Canada. He gave an overview CNSC’s participation in the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP) and described areas where Canada is receiving and adding the most value. He reiterated Canada’s commitment to MDEP participation.

Presentation by Terry Jamieson, Vice-President Technical Support Branch, to the 2009 Canadian Nuclear Society Annual Conference

Summary: Mr. Jamieson was invited to make a presentation to the attendees of the conference's Western Focus Seminar. The presentation provided an overview of CNSC's regulatory role in the country's Western nuclear industry and focused on the CNSC's technology neutral approach to licensing nuclear power plants.

Presentation by Terry Jamieson, Vice-President Technical Support Branch, to the University of Ontario Institute of Technology: The CNSC Tritium Studies Project

Presentation by Gordon White, Vice-President, Corporate Services Branch, at Bishop University (PDF)

Summary: Mr. White was invited to present at Bishop University. His presentation focused on employment opportunities at the CNSC. Recruitment, with an emphasis on hiring post-secondary graduates, is one of CNSC’s priorities. The presentation highlighted the CNSC’s mandate and responsibility to regulate the nuclear industry in Canada. The CNSC is an employer of choice with many opportunities for graduates to use their training to do important work that makes a difference.

This presentation was also made at the following universities by CNSC employees:

• École Polytechnique de Montréal – February 5, 2009
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology – February 11, 2009
• University of New Brunswick – February 12, 2009

Presentation by Professor Moyra J. McDill to SMiRT20:
The Regulator's Reality in Canada (PDF)

Summary: Commission Member McDill made a presentation during her participation in a leadership forum on "Energy Trends and Nuclear Renaissance" at the 20th Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology Conference, held in Espoo, Finland.

Commission Member McDill's presentation included a summary of the global context for energy and electricity demand, including nuclear's role; a look at the CNSC's reality in regulating the Canadian nuclear industry; and an overview of the CNSC's international collaboration.

The Chairman of the forum was Harri Tuomisto, Vice President, Fortum Generation (Finland), and the other forum participants included Dr. Jukka Laaksonen, Director General, STUK (Finland); and Dr. Jean-Pierre Hutin, Vice President, EdF, R&D Power Generation (France). 

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Northern Energy Tour November 2009 (PDF)

Summary: CNSC staff travelled to and presented information to members of specific communities in and around the Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan that are directly impacted by uranium mining. The main focus of the presentation is to provide information on the CNSC, how we regulate uranium mines and mills, and an overview of licensed facilities in Northern Saskatchewan.

Presentation by Robert Lojk, The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: Mandate and Role - Santiago, Chile

Summary: This presentation, which describes the CNSC’s regulatory regime, was given by CNSC staff in Santiago, Chile in support of a Canadian trade mission. The presentation outlines how the CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety and security of persons and the environment and to respect Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It also points out that the CNSC is an effective and independent regulator, with a transparent regime, utilizing modern legislation, standards and guides, and having a comprehensive system for licensing and compliance. 

CNSC participates in the Community of Federal Regulators 4th Annual Workshop

Summary: The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) participated in the Community of Federal Regulators (CFR) 4rd Annual National Workshop held in Ottawa on November 23 and 24. This year’s workshop theme was “Navigating the Regulatory Landscape in a Shifting Environment".

The CNSC hosted a kiosk at the workshop, providing an overview of the CNSC and its priorities, with a presentation on the CNSC’s compliance program.

Presentation by Barclay Howden at the Community of Federal Regulators 4th Annual Workshop, Ottawa, Ontario (PDF)

Summary: Participating in one of the six interactive sessions that explored how various departments and agencies have successfully applied the Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation spanning the lifecycle of regulation, Barclay Howden, Director General, Directorate of Regulatory Improvement and Major Projects Management, spoke on Canadian Nuclear Risk Management: Strategic and Operational Approaches to Compliance. He spoke in-depth about the CNSC`s compliance program – from verifying compliance to deploying compliance resources and enforcing compliance.

Presentation by Colin Moses to the International Nuclear Regulators Association

Summary: On October 20, 2009, Colin Moses, Executive Advisor to CNSC President Michael Binder, made a presentation during a meeting of the International Nuclear Regulators Association in South Korea.

Mr. Moses spoke generally about Canada's response to the isotope supply shortage, and specifically about the CNSC and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's responses, including a status update and next steps on the National Research Universal reactor's return-to-service.

Presentation to Mining Exposed 2009 Conference (PDF)

Summary: Kevin Scissons, CNSC Director of the Uranium Mines and Mills Division, will give a presentation entitled ‘Canada’s Nuclear Regulator: A Focus on Safety’ at the Mining Exposed 2009 Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 6, 2009.

This event serves as a forum for raising awareness of the nuclear sector and encouraging discussion with respect to how people rely on nuclear material in their everyday lives, and the current global and local state of the industry in an environmental context. This will aid the development of rational local decision-making regarding this important global industry.

Regulation of Sealed Sources in Canada
Presentation by Peter Elder, Director General of the Directorate of Nuclear Cycle and Facilities Regulation at the IAEA General Conference, Vienna, Austria (PDF)

Summary: One of the CNSC’s key roles is to implement the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.  Mr. Elder discussed CNSC’s regulatory requirements for radioactive sources “from cradle to grave” and how the CNSC has implemented the Sealed Source Tracking System and the National Sealed Source Registry. He pointed out that it was licensees’ responsibility was to ensure the safety and security of radioactive material. He also touched on the detection and control of orphan sources and the long-term management of disused sealed sources.

Presentation 1: Implementing a State-Level Integrated Safeguards Approach in Canada
Presentation 2: Implementing a State-Level Integrated Safeguards Approach: Moving Forward

Summary: Presentations for the 50th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Material Management in Tucson, Arizona on 13 July 2009. The first presentation details the elements of the State-Level Integrated Safeguards Approach for Canada, the process of implementation including state-specific considerations, a current status update, and lessons learned. The second presentation examines the State-level concept, its benefits and consideration relevant to Canada.

Presentation to Port Hope Municipal Council (PDF)

Summary: Patsy Thompson, Director General of the Directorate of Environmental and Radiation Protection and Assessment, was invited by the Town of Port Hope to present at a Municipal Council Meeting the findings of the Synthesis Report titled Understanding Health Studies and Risk Assessments Conducted in the Port Hope Community from the 1950’s to the Present. Other CNSC staff in attendance to answer questions from Council included Terry Jamieson, Vice-President, Technical Support Branch, Don Howard, Director, Wastes and Decommissioning Division and Rachel Lane, Epidemiologist, Radiation Protection Division.

Community Presentation in Saskatchewan: CNSC - Canada's Nuclear Regulator

Summary: At the request of the City of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Kevin Scissions, Director of the Uranium Mines and Mills Division, made a presentation, which was open to all members of the community.

This presentation provided a general overview of the CNSC and the CNSC's regulatory scope. The presentation also provided a more-detailed overview of the CNSC's regulation of existing nuclear power plants, and the licensing process for new build nuclear power plants in Canada.

Presentation to the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta

Summary: On Friday, April 24, 2009, Garry Schwarz, Director of the New Major Facilities Licensing Division made a presentation to the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta 2009 Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting in Calgary, Alberta.  

The presentation provided a general overview of the CNSC and the CNSC's regulatory scope. The presentation also provided an overview of the CNSC's regulation of existing nuclear power plants, and the licensing process for new build nuclear power plants in Canada.

Presentation to the North Battleford Chamber of Commerce in Saskatchewan (PDF)

Summary: At the request of the North Battleford Chamber of Commerce in Saskatchewan, Barclay Howden, Director General of the Directorate of Regulatory Improvement and Major Projects Management, made a presentation, which was open to all members of the community, on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.

This presentation was the last in a series of nuclear-related presentations requested by the Chamber of Commerce and provided a general overview of the CNSC and the CNSC's regulatory scope. The presentation also provided a more-detailed overview of the CNSC's regulation of existing nuclear power plants, and the licensing process for new build nuclear power plants in Canada.

Presentations at the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Mineral Industry (IGWG) Workshop

• Identifying, Controlling and Minimizing Risks to Human Health and the Environment
• CNSC Overview and Uranium Mines and Mills Regulatory Process (PDF)

Summary: Malcolm McKee, Environmental Risk Assessment Specialist for the Environmental Risk Assessment Division, and Denis Schryer, Project Officer, Ventilation Specialist for the Uranium Mines and Mills Division, were both invited to deliver presentations during the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Mineral Industry (IGWG) Workshop, which was held in Québec City on February 19, 2009. 

The goal of the workshop was to build a strong, evidence-based foundation for developing recommendations for the Mining Industry Image Task Group (and ultimately, for Ministers) with respect to how governments should best address issues related to the public's perception of, and response to, uranium exploration and mining.