Minister’s Message — Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s 2020 Annual Report

Canada’s nuclear industry is a key driver of innovation and a significant part of our non-emitting energy mix. Each year, it displaces over 50 million tonnes of carbon emissions across the country.  

When it comes to nuclear energy, our government’s top priorities will always be the safety of Canadians and protection of the environment. This includes ensuring that all radioactive waste is managed safely for generations to come.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is leading the way through its Adaptive Phased Management approach. This report outlines the NWMO’s efforts to deliver on its mandate while adapting to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

These efforts include working with Indigenous communities and municipalities to conduct more detailed technical site evaluations and undertaking social studies in each of the Ontario communities that could host a deep geological repository for nuclear fuel waste.

The NWMO also published a draft transportation framework that summarized Canadians’ priorities related to the transportation of used nuclear fuel and outlined a proposed approach for collaborative planning.

Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples remains a key priority in the NWMO’s work. Building on reconciliation training from 2019, the NWMO plans to continue this training for all staff. It has also completed multiple assessments of its policies, procedures and standards to ensure they move forward in the right way.

I invite you to learn more about the NWMO’s work through this report.

The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., P.C., M.P.

Minister of Natural Resources