Supplementary Information Tables for the 2024-25 Departmental Plan: Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+)

Governance

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) continues to advance the implementation of GBA+ governance through its GBA centre of excellence as well as the aid of its GBA+ champion.

Capacity

The CNSC will continue to integrate GBA+ into work-related areas where the Government of Canada has established GBA+ requirements. These areas are:

• the development, implementation and review of regulations
• the conduct of evaluations
• the development of cabinet proposals (such as Treasury Board submissions and memoranda to Cabinet)

The CNSC may expand the application of GBA+ beyond the mandated areas to other activities where its application would be beneficial, such as policies that support a hybrid workforce, the regulatory framework, Indigenous engagement and communication activities. The decision to undertake a GBA+ assessment on corporate projects is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Highlights of GBA+ results reporting by program

Strategic stakeholder engagement program

The CNSC is working to transform engagement with its diverse audiences to build and sustain trust in its abilities as an informed and proactive regulator. Throughout 2024–25, the CNSC will focus on establishing and maintaining long-term relationships — with new and potential nuclear host communities, targeted demographic groups, and environmental non-government organizations — to ensure that various perspectives, values, concerns and issues are discussed, considered and ultimately reflected in the decision-making process. The CNSC is working toward establishing a lifecycle approach to engagement and collaboration, outside of its existing licensing processes.

Indigenous engagement

The CNSC is committed to building trust and advancing reconciliation by being a culturally sensitive and respectful organization that actively listens to and learns from Indigenous Nations and communities. In 2024–25, the CNSC will continue to work with Indigenous partners and other federal departments and agencies to support the implementation of the Government of Canada’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and Action Plan and related measures that intersect with its mandate. In consultation with Indigenous Nations and communities, industry and the public, the CNSC is working to update and modernize REGDOC-3.2.2, Indigenous Engagement. This document sets requirements and guidance for licensees on engaging with Indigenous Nations and communities in supporting the CNSC’s consultation and engagement obligations in relation to their projects and facilities. Through the CNSC’s new Indigenous and stakeholder capacity fund, which was launched in May 2023, the CNSC will continue to work to help support reducing financial and capacity barriers so that Indigenous Nations and communities gain the capacity to engage in the full lifecycle of CNSC regulatory processes and activities and build long-term collaborative relationships and partnerships with the CNSC and the nuclear sector.

WISTEM

The CNSC’s Women in STEM (WISTEM) initiative was launched in 2019 to encourage girls and women to pursue a STEM education and career, to support women in STEM careers at the CNSC, and to raise awareness of women in STEM, in collaboration with interested partners such as government, industry and academia. In 2024–25, the CNSC will be hosting a multi-day STEM workshop for Indigenous girls in Saskatchewan to empower and inspire Indigenous youth, and to enhance capacity and knowledge around STEM and the nuclear sector.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion / Advisory Council on Inclusion

At the CNSC, equity, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to strengthening a healthy safety culture, encouraging innovation and collaboration, and supporting better decision making. As such, in the coming year, the CNSC will refresh its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy to ensure that efforts in this area are thoughtful, inclusive, and strategic. Looking forward, the CNSC plans to continue leveraging the diversity of the Canadian workforce to ensure that the organization is well equipped with diverse perspectives to innovate and tackle the complex nuclear issues that will face it as a regulator in the coming years. By fostering inclusion in the workplace, we want employees to feel respected, valued and safe to be themselves at work, and empowered to contribute and grow personally and professionally.

Accessibility Plan

The implementation of the CNSC’s Accessibility Plan is a starting point to addressing challenges known at the time of the plan’s inception. In 2024–25, the CNSC will continue to work towards addressing the varied, unique and nuanced barriers faced by persons with disabilities. This plan seeks to advance awareness and drive positive action towards making the CNSC a more accessible and equitable workplace for persons of all abilities. The CNSC will continue to consult its staff, including employees with disabilities, to seek feedback on improving and advancing its Accessibility Plan and future progress reports.