Convention on Nuclear Safety - National Reports
The Convention on Nuclear Safety (the Convention) commits signatory states that operate nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety.
Canada was one of the first signatories - known as Contracting Parties - of the Convention, and has been one of the staunchest promoters and supporters of its objectives.
- Convention on Nuclear Safety
- Canada’s national reports to review meetings of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
- National Reports to Extraordinary Meetings of the Convention
- Contributors to Canada's reports
Convention on Nuclear Safety
The Convention was adopted in Vienna in June 1994.
The document was put together through a series of expert-level meetings and work by governments, national nuclear safety authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Its provisions cover several areas, including siting, design, construction, operation, the availability of adequate financial and human resources, the assessment and verification of safety, quality assurance, and emergency preparedness.
The Convention is not designed for controls and sanctions, but is based on the participating states' common interest to achieve higher levels of safety, as developed and promoted through regular meetings, called review meetings.
The Convention asks each participating state to submit national reports on the implementation of its obligations for peer review, during these review meetings held in Vienna every three years.
The reports presented at the triennial regular meetings and at extraordinary (special) meetings demonstrate our country's firm commitment to nuclear safety through the Convention's three main objectives:
- to achieve and maintain a high level of nuclear safety through enhancing national measures and technical cooperation
- to establish and maintain effective defences against radiological hazards in nuclear installations, in order to protect people and the environment
- to prevent nuclear accidents and limit their consequences
These convention reports describe the systematic monitoring of safety-related programs and their implementation in Canada.
Canada’s national reports to review meetings of the Convention on Nuclear Safety
The CNSC, which regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment, submits the reports on behalf of Canada.
Ninth Report
The IAEA Joint 8th and 9th review meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety was held from March 20–31, 2023, in Vienna. The report demonstrates how Canada continues to meet its obligations under the Convention.
On March 22, 2023, Rumina Velshi, CNSC President and CEO, along with Ramzi Jammal, CNSC Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer, delivered Canada’s national presentation.
The presentation provided an overview of Canada’s nuclear program, in addition to information required by the Convention. Responses to challenges from previous review meetings, proposals for future challenges, highlights of Canada’s answers to questions posed during the peer review, and Canada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic were also addressed.
The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period, during which the President and other subject-matter experts from the CNSC, industry and other governmental agencies provided additional information. The outcome of Canada’s peer review process was captured in its country review report.
- Canada’s 9th National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety
- Canada’s presentation, March 2023 (PDF)
- Joint Statement: Eighth and Ninth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety - Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
- Country Review Report for Canada, drafted by Country Group 4
- Responses to Questions Raised from the Peer Review of Canada’s Ninth National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Eighth Report
The eighth Canadian report demonstrates how Canada continued to meet its obligations under the terms of the Convention during the reporting period from April 2016 to March 2019.
- Canadian National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety - Eighth Report
- Responses to Questions Raised from the Peer Review of Canada’s Eighth National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety
Seventh Report
The Seventh Review Meeting for the Convention on Nuclear Safety was held in March 27 to April 7, 2017 in Vienna. The report demonstrates how Canada continues to meet the obligations of the Convention.
Seventh Report
- Canadian National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety - Seventh Report, August 2016
- Responses to questions raised from peer review of Canada's Seventh National Report for the Convention of Nuclear Safety, March 2017 (PDF)
- Canada’s presentation, March 2017 (PDF)
- Country Review Report for Canada, drafted by Country Group 3
- Report of the President of the Review Meeting (PDF)
- Watch the opening and closing sessions (Source: IAEA)
- Strengthening global nuclear safety: Seventh Review Meeting for the CNS closes (news release)
- Convention on Nuclear Safety Attains New Level of Transparency (news release)
Canada’s seventh report outlines the various measures that are in place to assure the safe operation of nuclear power plants in Canada and the protection of the health and safety of people and the environment. These include a robust nuclear regulatory framework, a mature and effective regulator, and licensee organizations that are fully committed to nuclear safety. The report also emphasizes Canada’s commitment to openness and transparency, research and development, peer review, and continual improvement.
Ramzi Jammal, CNSC Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer, has been elected as President of the Seventh Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety. As President, Mr. Jammal will preside over discussions among participating countries on how to improve nuclear safety worldwide through a constructive exchange of views. For more information on Ramzi Jammal’s presidency, read the feature articles.
Highlights from the report
Nuclear power plant (NPP) safety history
- NPP licensees fulfilled the basic responsibilities for safety as required by the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, regulations, and the NPP operating licences. The licensees addressed any safety issues that arose to keep risks at reasonable levels – and continued to give safety high priority at every level of their organizations.
Fukushima action plan
- The Fukushima action items (FAIs), as specified in the CNSC Integrated Action Plan on the Lessons Learned From the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident, were completed by NPP licensees by December 31, 2015. The FAIs address safety improvements aimed at strengthening defence in depth and enhancing onsite emergency response.
Enhancements to the regulatory framework
- The CNSC continued to enhance the regulatory framework, which included new and amended regulations and new and revised regulatory documents relevant to both existing and new-build NPPs. CSA Group published new and revised standards that are also used to regulate NPPs. The CNSC introduced periodic safety review into the licensing framework.
Sixth Report
The Sixth Review Meeting for the Convention was held from March 24 to April 4, 2014.
- Canadian National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety: Sixth Report, August 2013 (PDF)
- Responses to questions raised from peer review of Canada's Sixth National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety, March 2014 (PDF)
Fifth Report
The Fifth Review Meeting for the Convention was held in April 2011.
- Canadian National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety: Fifth Report, September 2010 (PDF)
- Responses to questions raised from peer review of Canada's Fifth National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety (PDF)
Fourth Report
The Fourth Review Meeting for the Convention was held in April 2008.
- Canadian National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety: Fourth Report, September 2007 (PDF)
- Responses to questions raised from peer review of Canada's Fourth National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety (PDF)
Third Report
The Third Review Meeting for the Convention was held in April 2005.
- Canadian National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety: Third Report, September 2004 (PDF)
- Responses to Questions presented to Canada, April 2005 (PDF)
The First Anniversary Report comprises a status of actions on Canada and was published one year after the Third Review Meeting.
Second Report
The Second Review Meeting of the Convention was held in April 2002.
- Canadian National Report for the Convention on Nuclear Safety: Second Report, October 2001 (PDF
- Responses to Questions presented to Canada, April 2002 (PDF)
First Report
Updated July 10, 2012
Dr. Agnes Bishop, President of the Atomic Energy Control Board (the predecessor of the CNSC), shown with a
member of the IAEA, signed the Convention on Canada's behalf in 1994. Canada was one of the first signatories of
the Convention on Nuclear Safety, which came into force on October 24, 1996.
As a result of Canada's obligation as a signatory of the Convention, the first report was produced by the Atomic Energy Control Board (the CNSC's predecessor) on behalf of Canada. The first review meeting was held in April 1999.
National Reports to Extraordinary Meetings of the Convention
Besides holding review meetings, the Convention provides for the organization of extraordinary meetings at the request of contracting parties to discuss specific matters related to the conduct of the review meetings or to discuss important issues that may arise, such as lessons learned from the nuclear accident in Japan.
Second Extraordinary Meeting
Besides holding review meetings, the Convention provides for the organization of extraordinary meetings at the request of Contracting Parties to discuss specific matters related to the conduct of the review meetings or to discuss important issues that may arise, such as lessons learned from the nuclear accident in Japan.
- Canada's National Report for the Second Extraordinary Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (PDF)
First Extraordinary Meeting
The First Extraordinary Meeting was held in September 2009, in conjunction with the Fifth Organizational Meeting of the Convention, to discuss and agree on the changes to Guidelines Regarding National Reports.
No national report was produced for this meeting.
Contributors to Canada's Convention Reports
As the federal authority legislated to regulate the production of nuclear energy in Canada, the CNSC is responsible for coordinating Canada's participation at the review meetings and for preparing the national report.
However, the national reports represent a collective work, involving the cooperation of various federal departments and provincial emergency management authorities, as well as input from licensees.
The following organizations are among those that contribute to writing and reviewing these documents.
Federal departments and agencies
- Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
- Natural Resources Canada
- Health Canada
- Public Safety Canada
Provincial emergency management authorities
- Emergency Management Ontario
- Organisation de sécurité civile du Québec
- New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization
Industry organizations
- Bruce Power Inc., a private corporation
- Hydro-Québec, a Crown corporation of the Province of Québec
- NB Power, a Crown corporation of the Province of New Brunswick
- Ontario Power Generation Inc., a private company wholly owned by the Province of Ontario
- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd. (CNL)
- CANDU Energy Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of a public corporation
- CANDU Owners Group (GOG)
- SNC-Lavalin Nuclear
- Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL)
Related links
- Convention on Nuclear Safety (source: IAEA Web site)
- Closing remarks by Ramzi Jammal at the Seventh Review Meeting
- Opening remarks by Ramzi Jammal at the Seventh Review Meeting
- Statement of the President at the Seventh Review Meeting
- Opening remarks by Ramzi Jammal at the Convention on Nuclear Safety Officers’ Turnover Meeting
- Closing remarks by Ramzi Jammal at the Convention on Nuclear Safety Officers’ Turnover Meeting
- Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management
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