Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects

The Cabinet Directive on Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects focuses on the federal efforts needed to accelerate regulatory efficiency for clean growth projects. It is intended to help get clean growth projects built faster by accelerating decision-making related to these projects.

Section 1. Overview of the CNSC’s Role in Supporting Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency

Under the Cabinet Directive on Regulatory and Permitting Efficiency for Clean Growth Projects, the CNSC plays a key role in advancing the Government of Canada’s goal of more timely, coordinated and predictable federal decision making for clean growth projects. While the Directive does not alter the CNSC’s statutory independence or safety mandate, the CNSC supports its implementation by continuing to:

• collaborate with other federal departments and agencies
• coordinate assessments with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) in alignment with the Directive’s 3-year target for nuclear project reviews
• ensure timeliness and predictability in CNSC-led regulatory processes for major nuclear projects, including a 24-month initial licensing timeline for new reactors and uranium mines and mills
• share information with proponents, the public, Indigenous Nations and communities, and other federal departments and agencies to enhance transparency in regulatory processes and improve whole-of-government oversight of clean growth initiatives

Through these actions, the CNSC will continue to contribute to achieving national clean growth and net-zero objectives – ensuring efficiency of process while maintaining the highest standards of nuclear safety and regulatory integrity.

Section 2. Results for Thematic Areas of the Cabinet Directive

Theme 1: Strengthening service standards

Planned results:

• The CNSC will meet its established service standards related to regulatory efficiency.

Theme 2: Providing timely guidance to proponents

Planned results:

• The CNSC will provide timely guidance to proponents on all CNSC-led regulatory processes for major nuclear projects.
• The CNSC will work closely with IAAC to integrate its licensing process into the integrated impact assessment process for nuclear projects to ensure a streamlined approach under the “one project, one review” principle.

Theme 3: Coordinating consultation with Indigenous Peoples

Planned results:

• The CNSC will lead Crown consultation in coordination with other federal departments and agencies for CNSC-led regulatory processes for major nuclear projects.
• The CNSC will collaborate with the IAAC on a coordinated approach to Crown consultation activities under the Impact Assessment Act, 2019.
• The CNSC will partake in government-wide efforts to coordinate consultation with Indigenous Peoples, including work on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and free prior and informed consent.