Getting Involved

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) is committed to being an open and transparent regulator and encourages stakeholders to participate in the nuclear regulatory process through established consultation mechanisms.

The Commission Tribunal makes decisions on the licensing of major nuclear facilities through a public hearing process. Commission meetings are normally open to the public for observation, but unlike public hearings, no formal provision for intervention is made. Members of the public are welcome to observe hearings or to formally participate as intervenors. Members of the public who wish to observe meetings can do so without stating their intention to attend the meeting.

For more information about getting involved in Commission hearings and meetings, please see participating in public hearings and observing public meetings.

Public participation is also an essential element of the environmental assessment process.  Public participation strengthens the quality and credibility of environmental assessments.

The development of CNSC Regulatory Documents also includes a consultative process. Draft regulatory documents are made available for public comment and, at the end of the comment period, all input is reviewed by CNSC staff. The document may then be revised, reissued for further comment, withdrawn, or formalized as a CNSC Regulatory Document.