Participant Funding Program decision – Consultation activities with Hiawatha First Nation regarding Ontario Power Generation’s application for a licence to operate for the Darlington New Nuclear Project

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) offered funding through its Participant Funding Program (PFP) to assist Hiawatha First Nation (HFN) in participating in consultation and engagement activities with CNSC staff. These activities include meetings with CNSC staff to discuss the application for a licence to operate and the co-development of a consultation plan.

The information gathered from these activities will be included in the relevant Commission member document in order to bring any valuable information directly to the Commission.

Background

The CNSC makes participant funding available to:

• enhance Indigenous and public participation in the CNSC’s environmental assessment and licensing processes
• help Indigenous Nations and communities, members of the public and interested parties bring valuable information to the Commission

A funding review committee (FRC) was established to review the HFN funding application received by the CNSC’s PFP administrator and to make recommendations on the allocation of funding to the applicant.

On September 24, 2026, the FRC reviewed the HFN application received by the CNSC.

Participant funding decision

The CNSC has carefully considered the recommendations of the FRC on the allocation of participant funding for consultation activities with HFN regarding Ontario Power Generation’s application for a licence to operate for the DNNP.

The CNSC will award funding to the recipient as listed below.

Recipient	CNSC-approved funding
Hiawatha First Nation	$30,000.00
Total	$30,000.00

Eligibility and funding criteria

For more information on participant funding and how it works, including details on eligibility and funding criteria, please read the Participant Funding Program Guide.

Contact information

Participant Funding Program Administrator

pfp@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca