Participant Funding Program decision – Regulatory Oversight Report for Uranium and Nuclear Substance Processing Facilities in Canada: 2022

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced on May 8, 2023, that it was offering up to $50,000 under its Participant Funding Program (PFP) to assist Indigenous Nations and communities, members of the public and stakeholders in reviewing CNSC staff’s Regulatory Oversight Report for Uranium and Nuclear Substance Processing Facilities in Canada: 2022, and in submitting written comments to the Commission. In addition, in the spirit of reconciliation and in recognition of the Indigenous oral tradition of sharing knowledge, the CNSC is offering Indigenous intervenors the opportunity to make oral presentations.

Background

The CNSC made participant funding available:

• for the provision of new, distinctive and valuable information to the Commission through informed and topic-specific interventions
• to assist interested parties in reviewing CNSC staff’s report and in submitting written comments to the Commission

A funding review committee (FRC), independent from the CNSC, was established to review the funding applications received by the CNSC’s PFP administrator and to make recommendations on the allocation of up to $50,000 for eligible applicants.

The FRC members were:

• Kurt Saunders, retired Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Director
• James Taylor, retired Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada Senior Advisor

On June 21, 2023, the FRC met to review the 3 PFP applications received by the CNSC, requesting a total of $41,775.61.

Eligibility and funding criteria

For more information on participant funding and how it works, including details about eligibility and funding criteria, please read the PFP guide.

CNSC participant funding decision

The CNSC carefully considered the FRC’s recommendations on the allocation of participant funding and approved the reimbursement of up to $39,872.76 to the following recipients.

Applicant	Maximum amount of available funding
Hiawatha First Nation	$12,485
Nuclear Transparency Project	$4,500
Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation	$22,887.76
TOTAL	$39,872.76*

*In addition, the CNSC awarded funding to Kebaowek First Nation to meet with CNSC staff to discuss the regulatory oversight report.

Additional information:

Participant Funding Program Administrator, CNSC
Email: pfp@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca