Nuclear Safety in Canada - Organization

The CNSC is an independent federal government agency, and is composed of two components: a decision-making Commission tribunal that makes legally binding decisions based on laws and regulations, and a staff organization with technical experts in various disciplines of nuclear safety and control. The CNSC is accountable to the Parliament of Canada through the Minister of Natural Resources Canada.

The Commission functions as a quasi-judicial tribunal. It sets regulatory policy direction and establishes legally binding regulations on matters relating to health, safety, security and environment issues affecting the Canadian nuclear industry, and respects Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The Commission is responsible for making licensing decisions on nuclear activities in Canada.

The CNSC staff organization is comprised of more than 500 employees. It develops regulatory frameworks, makes recommendations on licensing activities to the Commission and conducts compliance activities (verification, safety promotion and enforcement) in support of an effective and efficient regulatory regime. The staff organization consists of a headquarters in Ottawa, site offices located at each of the five nuclear generating stations in Canada, and five regional offices.

Neither the Commission nor the CNSC staff organization has a role in promoting the use of nuclear energy or in the development of nuclear technology. The CNSC's concerns always remain regulation and safety, not commercial development or promotion.

The CNSC has both national and international nuclear safety and control responsibilities. National nuclear safety responsibilities focus on the regulation of nuclear energy to protect the public, nuclear workers and the environment in Canada. International responsibilities involve working to ensure that Canada's international nuclear non-proliferation obligations are upheld.