Participant Funding Program decision – Kebaowek First Nation's participation in the procedural direction for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories' near surface disposal facility

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has offered funding through its Participant Funding Program to assist Kebaowek First Nation (KFN) in participating in meetings and activities in relation to the Commission’s procedural direction for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ near surface disposal facility.

The information gathered from these meetings and activities will be included in relevant Commission member documents so that any valuable information gathered can be brought directly to the Commission.

Background

The CNSC made PFP support available to:

• enhance Indigenous and stakeholder participation in the CNSC’s environmental assessment and licensing processes
• help Indigenous Nations and communities, members of the public and stakeholders bring valuable information to the Commission

A funding review committee (FRC), independent of the CNSC, was established to review the funding application received by the CNSC’s PFP administrator and to make recommendations on the allocation of funding to the applicant.

The FRC members were:

• Yves Leboeuf, retired vice-president of operations, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
• Steve Burgess, retired director, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

James Taylor, retired senior advisor, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

The FRC reviewed the PFP application requesting a total of $86,000.

Eligibility and funding criteria

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

CNSC participant funding decision

The CNSC carefully considered the FRC’s recommendation on the allocation of participant funding to assist KFN and approved the reimbursement of up to $86,000.

Applicant	Maximum amount of available funding
Kebaowek First Nation	$86,000
Total	$86,000

Amendment

After the initial funding award, the Commission announced an additional virtual Commission hearing for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ near surface disposal facility project. As the Commission hearing was not part of the initial scope of the funding, the CNSC approved amending KFN’s contribution agreement to include an additional $15,000 to assist with their participation in the hearing, bringing the total amount of funding to $101,000.

Applicant	Maximum amount of available funding
Kebaowek First Nation	$101,000
Total	$101,000

Additional information

Participant Funding Program Administrator, CNSC
Tel: 613-415-2814
Email: pfp@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca