Including Indigenous Observers on Regulatory Inspections

Abstract

Building trust with Canadians is a priority for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). In particular, the CNSC is focused on meaningful long-term engagement and building good working relationships with Indigenous Nations and communities around major nuclear facilities across Canada. One of the activities the CNSC has recently piloted was for representatives of Indigenous Nations and communities to participate as observers on CNSC inspections related to power reactor sites. CNSC staff found that as a result of these activities the participating Indigenous Nations and communities had a better understanding of CNSC staff regulatory oversight of the facilities and led to increased trust in regulatory processes. This paper will share the work conducted, the challenges that were encountered and how they were overcome, as well as the benefits that were realized and how lessons learned can be applied to future collaborative activities with Indigenous Nations and communities moving forward.