Supplementary Information Tables for the 2023–24 Departmental Plan: Details on transfer payment programs

Departmental Result 1:
The environment is protected from releases from nuclear facilities and activities.

Departmental Result 2:
Canadians are protected from radiation resulting from nuclear facilities and activities.

Eligible recipients include:

• Canadian, foreign and multinational non-profit organizations
• Canadian and foreign academic institutions
• Canadian provincial, territorial, municipal and/or regional governments
• Foreign government departments and agencies

Departmental Result 1:
The environment is protected from releases from nuclear facilities and activities.

Departmental Result 2:
Canadians are protected from radiation resulting from nuclear facilities and activities.

Eligible recipients include:

• Canadian, foreign and multinational non-profit organizations
• Canadian and foreign academic institutions
• Canadian provincial, territorial, municipal and/or regional governments
• Foreign government departments and agencies

The objective of the Participant Funding Program (PFP) is to:

1. enhance individual, not-for-profit organization and Indigenous Nation and community participation in the CNSC’s environmental assessment (EA) and licensing processes for major nuclear facilities (e.g., uranium mines, nuclear power plants, nuclear substance processing, or nuclear waste facilities)
2. assist individuals, not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous Nations and communities in bringing value-added information to the Commission through informed and topic-specific interventions related to EAs and licensing (i.e., new, distinctive and relevant information that contributes to a better understanding of the anticipated effects of a project)

Funding provided by the PFP is expected to:

• ensure that the knowledge and concerns of the public, Indigenous Nations and communities and stakeholders are heard and considered by the Commission
• provide opportunities to participate in CNSC regulatory processes to those who would not otherwise be able to do so
• bring value-added information to the Commission. Value-added information is new, distinctive and relevant information that contributes to a better understanding of the anticipated effects of a project

Eligible recipients include: individuals, Indigenous peoples, landowners, incorporated not-for-profit organizations, or other interest groups who are able to demonstrate one of the following:

• a direct, local interest in the project
• Indigenous knowledge and/or local community insight
• interests in impacts on treaty lands, settlement lands or traditional territories or related claims and rights
• provision of value-added information relevant to the CNSC’s mandate and the specific matter before the Commission

After each Commission proceeding at which participant funding was awarded, CNSC staff send surveys to all recipients to obtain their feedback on the PFP and how it can be improved. These survey results are then collected and reported on in recipient survey feedback notes, which influence how the program is delivered for future PFP opportunities.

The PFP is flexible and staff are always looking for ways to improve the program. For example, feedback on the PFP from recipients, including Indigenous Nations and communities, has resulted in the program expanding to fund additional activities such as public Commission meetings related to regulatory oversight reports, meetings with Indigenous communities, and Indigenous knowledge studies related to CNSC-regulated facilities and activities.

The objective of the Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund (ISCF) is to:

1. Develop and support organizational capacity of Indigenous Peoples and public stakeholders to participate in and contribute to CNSC regulatory processes, programs, policies and initiatives prior to and throughout the life cycle of nuclear facilities and activities in Canada;
2. Collaborate with Indigenous Peoples and public stakeholders in order to build relationships and trust with the CNSC and better incorporate Indigenous and local knowledge, traditional laws, processes, and perspectives into the CNSC’s regulatory processes and initiatives.

Funding provided by the ISCF is expected to:

• increase capacity to participate in CNSC regulatory processes, policy reviews, programs and initiatives
• increase awareness of the CNSC and its role as Canada’s nuclear regulator
• increase collaboration between the CNSC and Indigenous Peoples and public stakeholders
• enhance opportunities for participation, consultation, and engagement in environmental reviews and in public Commission proceedings
• enhance information to the Commission as part of Commission proceedings.

The objective of the Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund (ISCF) is to:

1. Develop and support organizational capacity of Indigenous Peoples and public stakeholders to participate in and contribute to CNSC regulatory processes, programs, policies and initiatives prior to and throughout the life cycle of nuclear facilities and activities in Canada;
2. Collaborate with Indigenous Peoples and public stakeholders in order to build relationships and trust with the CNSC and better incorporate Indigenous and local knowledge, traditional laws, processes, and perspectives into the CNSC’s regulatory processes and initiatives.

Funding provided by the ISCF is expected to:

• increase capacity to participate in CNSC regulatory processes, policy reviews, programs and initiatives
• increase awareness of the CNSC and its role as Canada’s nuclear regulator
• increase collaboration between the CNSC and Indigenous Peoples and public stakeholders
• enhance opportunities for participation, consultation, and engagement in environmental reviews and in public Commission proceedings
• enhance information to the Commission as part of Commission proceedings.