Details on transfer payment programs

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) Class Grants and Contribution Program

Research Grant

Start date: FY 1984‒85

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grant (Research)

Type of appropriation: Annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): 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.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: The objectives of the Class Grants & Contribution (G&Cs) Program are to enable the research, development and management of activities that contribute to the objectives of the Research and Support Program in order to reduce uncertainties regarding health, safety, security and environmental issues.

Results achieved: Addressed gaps and uncertainties in the CNSC’s regulatory knowledge base.

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23: N/A – no audits in 2022-23.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: N/A – no evaluations completed in 2022-23.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: Research Grants do not have an external application process. Grants are planned internally based on CNSC needs are linked to CNSC research goals.

Research Contribution

Start date: FY 1984‒85

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contribution (Research)

Type of appropriation: Annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): 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.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: The objectives of the Class Grants & Contribution (G&Cs) Program are to enable the research, development and management of activities that contribute to the objectives of the Research and Support Program in order to reduce uncertainties regarding health, safety, security and environmental issues.

Results achieved: Addressed gaps and uncertainties in the CNSC’s regulatory knowledge base.

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23 N/A – no audits in 2022-23.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: N/A – no evaluations completed in 2022-23.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: Research contributions do not have an external application process. Research contributions are planned internally based on organizational needs, with links to CNSC research goals.

Participant Funding Program Contribution

Start date: FY 2011‒12

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contribution (Participant Funding Program)

Type of appropriation: Annually through the Estimates and cost-recovered through CNSC licensees

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2011–12

Link to departmental result(s): Departmental Result 4: Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, have meaningful information about, and the opportunity to participate in, the nuclear regulatory process.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: The objective of the Participant Funding Program (PFP) is to:

1. enhance Indigenous, public, and stakeholder participation, as well as consultation, engagement, reconciliation, with Indigenous Peoples and public stakeholders, in environmental assessments and Commission proceedings at CNSC
2. help stakeholders better understand technical information related to environmental reviews and licensing in order to bring valuable information to CNSC through informed and topic-specific interventions and assist the Commission Tribunal in making fully informed decisions

Results achieved: The PFP achieved the following objectives:

• 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

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23: An internal audit of the Participant Funding Program was completed in 2022-23. The audit found that the PFP was being run in compliance with its Terms and Conditions, and recommended that CNSC staff re-confirm roles and responsibilities with internal stakeholders and update the PFP’s process documents where needed.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: N/A

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: After each Commission proceeding at which participant funding is awarded, CNSC staff sends surveys to all recipients to obtain their feedback on the PFP and how it could be improved. Results are analyzed and summarized through feedback notes from those who completed the survey. This feedback helps inform how the program is delivered for future PFP opportunities.

Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund Grant

Start date: FY 2022‒23

End date: 2027-28

Type of transfer payment: Grant (Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund)

Type of appropriation: Annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022–23

Link to departmental result(s): Departmental Result 4: Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, have meaningful information about, and the opportunity to participate in, the nuclear regulatory process.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: 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.

Results achieved: N/A - First year of implementation is in 2023–24

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23: N/A

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: N/A

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: N/A - First year of implementation is in 2023–24

Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund Contribution

Start date: FY 2022‒23

End date: 2027-28

Type of transfer payment: Contribution (Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund)

Type of appropriation: Annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022–23

Link to departmental result(s): Departmental Result 4: Canadians, including Indigenous peoples, have meaningful information about, and the opportunity to participate in, the nuclear regulatory process.

Link to the department’s Program Inventory: Scientific, Regulatory and Public Information

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: 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.

Results achieved: N/A - First year of implementation is in 2023–24

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23: N/A

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: N/A

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: N/A - First year of implementation is in 2023–24

Financial information (dollars)

Type of transfer payment	2020–21 Actual spending	2021–22 Actual spending	2022–23 Planned spending	2022–23 Total authorities available for use	2022–23 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2022–23 actual minus 2022–23 planned)
Total grants (Research & Support)	75,000	63,000	75,000	69,581	69,581	(5,419)
Total contributions (Research & Support)	1,919,336	1,809,949	1,892,027	2,116,006	2,116,006	223,979
Total contributions (PFP)	1,109,148	1,042,518	925,000	2,142,686	2,142,686	1,217,686
Total grants (ISCF)	0	0	0	200,000	0	0
Total contributions (ISCF)	0	0	0	1,400.000	0	0
Total program	3,103,484	2,915,467	2,892,027	5,928,273	4,328,273	1,436,246

Explanation of variances

In 2022-23, the CNSC received funding through the Impact Assessment Renewal Initiative, which included grants and contributions funding for the Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund. As the funds were received at the end of the fiscal year, there were no 2022-23 expenditures for the Indigenous and Stakeholder Capacity Fund.

The CNSC also received a 2022-23 increase of $1,340,000 in the funding envelope for the existing Participant Funding Program.