External Advisory Committee Examining the Response of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to the 2011 Japanese Nuclear Event
On August 5, 2011, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) established an external advisory committee (EAC) to assess the organization’s processes and responses in light of the lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear incident, an event which highlighted the importance of nuclear safety around the world.
EAC committee members were tasked with reviewing the CNSC’s processes including the immediate response to the Fukushima incident, its connections with the rest of government and international organizations and its interactions with the Canadian nuclear sector and its regulated industries. They also reviewed the CNSC’s communications with affected stakeholders, including governments, other nuclear regulators, and the public. The EAC also assessed the implications on the CNSC’s activities resulting from the international response to Fukushima, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency action plan.
The EAC is comprised of independent experts in energy, innovation, engineering, governance and safety from outside of the nuclear sector.
The committee members are:
- Kenneth Knox (Chair), former President of the Innovation Institute of Ontario following a 27-year career as a senior public servant in the Ontario Government
- Dr. Gilles Patry, President of the Canada Foundation for Innovation and former President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, preceded by a distinguished academic career
- Henry Wright, former Board member with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada examining aviation, rail, marine and pipeline safety.
On April 12, 2012, the EAC delivered its report to CNSC President Michael Binder. The report (PDF) presents a number of findings made by the EAC during its eight-month study of the CNSC’s response to the 2011 Japanese nuclear event and makes nine recommendations.