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. For more information, please visit the Clean Growth Office.

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

The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the environment and ensure the health, safety, and security of all people in Canada. To support the rapid expansion of Canada’s nuclear sector, the CNSC continues to strengthen its regulatory processes and modernize its consultation practices informed by feedback from the CNSC’s regulated community, stakeholders, and Indigenous Nations and communities. These actions ensure that reviews of proposed nuclear projects are timely and include meaningful Indigenous engagement and consultation.

Section 2. Results for Thematic Areas of the Cabinet Directive

Theme 1: Strengthening service standards 

Results achieved: 

Between April 2024 and March 2025, the CNSC continued to meet its service standards related to regulatory and permitting efficiency.

A key example of this in 2024–25 is the Commission Decision on the License to Construct for the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP), which was completed in 29 months. The License to construct service standard is 32 months, as per REGDOC 3.5.1, and the Commission Decision was well within this timeframe.

Theme 2: Providing timely guidance to proponents 

Results achieved:  

The CNSC provides timely guidance to proponents. It works closely with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) to integrate its licensing process into the integrated impact assessment process for nuclear projects. This ensures a streamlined approach under the "one project, one review" principle.

The IAAC/CNSC Impact Assessment process that incorporates the License to Prepare Site application is a way to “reduce duplication in subsequent information requests”.

To facilitate timely and effective guidance, the CNSC:

• engaged in joint early communications and draft-reviews of proponent documentation, helping to improve formal submissions
• conducted joint outreach efforts to educate stakeholders about the integrated impact assessment process, nuclear safety, and the CNSC’s regulatory framework
• developed comprehensive plans for integrated cooperation, Indigenous engagement and participation, public engagement, and permitting
• created tailored impact statement guidelines, ensuring that regulatory and assessment requirements are clearly integrated for proponents

This proactive approach enhanced clarity, fostered collaboration, and ensured proponents received timely and well-structured guidance throughout the regulatory process. In addition, the CNSC continues to engage proponents in the pre-licensing stage to provide information and guidance that supports clean growth, should their projects be submitted for licensing consideration.

Theme 3: Coordinating consultation with Indigenous peoples 

Results Achieved:

• the CNSC continued to lead Crown consultation in coordination with other federal departments and agencies for CNSC led regulatory processes for major nuclear projects, including:
  • ongoing Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 project assessments
  • licensing and project assessments under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act that are not designated under the Impact Assessment Act, 2019
• the CNSC continued to collaborate with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada on a coordinated approach to Crown consultation activities for 4 integrated assessment processes under the Impact Assessment Act, 2019
• the CNSC participated in and contributed to the working group coordinated by Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to establish a Crown consultation coordinator function for major project reviews
• the CNSC is leading Crown consultation activities following the Federal Court’s direction to re-initiate consultation with Kebaowek First Nation (KFN) in relation to the proposed near surface disposal facility (NSDF) project.
  • The CNSC and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories continue to consult with KFN to reach an agreement on the project based on a United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) process to seek free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).
  • The CNSC is actively engaging with all interested federal departments and agencies to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to implementing UNDRIP and FPIC across the federal government.