NUCLEAR SAFETY AND SECURITY

"We stress the necessity of further progress in the establishment of relevant domestic legislation and in the enhancement of the international regime of nuclear liability as well as in the preparation of an international convention on the safety of radioactive waste management." (4)

COMPLIANCE GRADING: +1

DOMESTIC:
In Canada, 22 nuclear power plants meet close to 20% of the nation's electricity needs. Ontario alone depends upon nuclear power for 60% of its energy use/consumption.

The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB) monitors and regulates the nuclear industry in Canada and is responsible for ensuring Canada maintains a superior nuclear safety record

- The AECB continues to enter into bilateral cooperative agreements on nuclear safety and acts with and in accordance with IAEA and its rules and procedures

The Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) operates a nuclear safety and engineering program which consists of a team of nuclear experts who work with nuclear energy possessing countries to improve management and safety.

Canadian Nuclear Safety Initiative (CNSI) continues to offer its expertise and in 1994 introduced a new program - the Regulatory Co-operation Program.

August 18, 1996 -- Canada and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to renew nuclear cooperation, which entails continued Canadian expertise in nuclear safety and radioactive waste management

TEST CASE: CHINA

November 26, 1996 -- Canada and China have had a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement since 1994 -- Eggleton announced, at the Canada-China Business Council's Annual General Meeting, that Canada has reaffirmed its desire to develop closer nuclear cooperation with China

November 26, 1996 -- Chretien and AECL and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) sign the agreement on the sale of 2 CANDU-6 reactors to China. As part of this agreement, the AECB will be working with the CNNC to ensure a long term relationship of peaceful and safe environmentally sound methods of producing nuclear energy

Canada has engaged China in sustained and substantive dialogue on various nuclear questions

Consistent with the commitment to establish an international regime on nuclear liability -- in 1996 September, China signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, thereby committing itself not to conduct further tests

INTERNATIONAL:

evident is growing intergovernmental cooperation in strengthening nuclear, radiation and waste safety worldwide -- International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Nuclear Safety Review 1996 identifies a trend toward a "global nuclear safety culture" which involves three elements:
1) legally binding international safety agreements - i.e preparations on the entry into force of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (ratified by Canada and entered into force October 24, 1996), and work is underway on a convention on the safety of radioactive waste management
2) non-binding international safety standards
3) provisions for application of standards

Progress on pilot programs such as establishing Predisposal Waste Demonstration Centres is currently underway

Nuclear Liability is also being transformed with greater consequences on carelessness

Canada continues to ensure that nuclear safety and security is a G7 Summit issue as Canada is an active member of the G7 Nuclear Safety Assistance Group