Vol. 134, No. 12 — June 7, 2000

Registration
SI/2000-42 7 June, 2000

NUCLEAR SAFETY AND CONTROL ACT

Order Fixing May 31, 2000 as the Date of the Coming into Force of the Act

P.C. 2000-752 18 May, 2000

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Natural Resources, pursuant to section 127 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, assented to on March 20, 1997, being chapter 9 of the Statutes of Canada, 1997, hereby fixes May 31, 2000 as the day on which that Act comes into force.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order.)

An Act to establish the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and to make consequential amendments to other acts was assented to on March 20, 1997 (Bill C-23). The Act comprises the new Nuclear Safety and Control Act, and consequential amendments to other acts. The Act replaces the Atomic Energy Control Act with a modern statute to provide for more explicit and effective regulation of nuclear energy. This Act replaces the Atomic Energy Control Board with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, underlining its separate role from that of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., the federal research, development and marketing organization for nuclear energy. The Act provides the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission with a mandate to establish and enforce national standards concerning the health, safety and environmental consequences of nuclear activities. It also establishes a basis for implementing Canadian policy and fulfilling Canada's obligations with respect to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. It increases the maximum number of members of the Commission from five to seven to provide a broader range of expertise, and permits them to sit in panels. The Act sets out a formal system for redetermination and appeal of decisions and orders made by the Commission, designated officers and inspectors. It also brings the enforcement powers of inspectors and the penalties for infractions into line with current legislative practices. The Commission is empowered to require financial guarantees and to order remedial action in hazardous situations. The Act binds the Crown, both federal and provincial, and the private sector. The Act recognizes that the Commission and the Governor in Council may incorporate provincial laws by reference and delegate powers to the provinces in areas better regulated by them or where licensees would otherwise be subject to overlapping regulatory provisions.

The Order brings the Act into force on May 31, 2000.

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