Organization Profile - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is an independent regulatory agency and administrative tribunal, and has jurisdiction over all nuclear-related activities and substances in Canada.

The Commission is responsible regulating nuclear activities to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment, and to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, the CNSC achieves its mission by:

• regulating the development, production and use of nuclear energy and substances, as well as the possession, use and transportation of nuclear substances;

• implementing measures to meet international and domestic controls on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear explosive devices; and

• providing objective scientific technical and regulatory information about the activities of the CNSC.

Nuclear Safety and Control Act

The Commission consists of not more than seven permanent members to be appointed by the GIC.

The GIC shall designate one of the permanent members to hold office as President. The President is a full-time member of the Commission and the other members may be appointed as full-time or part-time members.

Each permanent member holds office during good behaviour for a term not exceeding five years and may be removed at any time by the GIC for cause.

The GIC may appoint temporary members of the Commission whenever, in the opinion of the GIC, it is necessary to do so. Each temporary member holds office during good behaviour for a term not exceeding three years.

A member is eligible to be re-appointed to the Commission in the same or another capacity.

A member shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in any activity, have any interest in a business or accept or engage in any office or employment that is inconsistent with the member's duties.

A member who becomes aware that the member is in a conflict of interest contrary to the above shall, within one hundred and twenty days, terminate the conflict or resign from the Commission.

The President is the CEO of the Commission.

If the President is absent or incapacitated or if the office of President is vacant, such other member as may be designated by the Commission has all the powers and functions of the President during the absence, incapacity or vacancy, but no person may so act for a period exceeding ninety days without the approval of the GIC.