Public Safety committee  Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. For the record, my name is Ken Pereira. I am the executive vice-president of operations at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. I am joined here today by Mr. Gerry Frappier, director general of our directorate of security and safeguards.

Public Safety committee  With me is Mr. Gerry Frappier. He is the director general of our directorate of security and safeguards. He has overall responsibility for direction of our emergency preparedness program.

Public Safety committee  Thank you for the question. The challenge we see always in emergency management is to coordinate the roles of the different players. When we look at the mandates and the plans in place of each of the responding organizations, we find that they have sound programs and procedures in place, but the challenge we always face is to bring the different response arrangements into synergy with each other.

Public Safety committee  We do not have any for the bill as it is drafted.

Public Safety committee  Correct.

Public Safety committee  No. The levels of risk are no different. But we have control measures that ensure an operating system that provides security assurance.

Public Safety committee  Not all of them. We have procedures and systems in place to ensure that the operating processes of nuclear power stations are well-designed and that maintenance is properly carried out. Our operating licences prescribe steps that need to be followed to avoid the risk of accidents.

Public Safety committee  We have several systems to stop the nuclear reaction. There is a system that is used to protect the reactor and with the injection of reactivity it can stop the nuclear reaction. The system design is slightly different from those of other types of reactors, but we also have several systems to control nuclear reactions.

Public Safety committee  Mr. Frappier might be able to answer.

Public Safety committee  We have committees that are tasked with exchanging information. There is a committee that deals with the exchange of information and that looks at security challenges. Mr. Frappier has been a member of this committee and he might be able to tell you more.

Public Safety committee  The standard was established by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. It arose from a design-basis threat analysis that was done. This methodology was developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. We carry out these analyses from time to time, and since the events of September 11, 2001, there have been changes in what is done at nuclear generating stations.

Public Safety committee  Yes, there's consultation. In fact, with the requirements being incorporated into regulations, there's been widespread consultation on how those requirements are brought to bear. We've gone through the regulations-making process, including gazetting of regulations. Yes, we've had consultations with CSIS and the RCMP.

Public Safety committee  I'm not sure that it will, but I'll ask Mr. Frappier to comment.

Public Safety committee  We review the entire spectrum of parameters that cover the operation of a facility, including security and including emergency management. It is a comprehensive review covering all aspects of what contributes to safe operation of the facility.

Public Safety committee  Our mandate concerns the operation of a nuclear facility, so we have direct control over what the licence holder does. In issuing licences, we seek from the licensee an assurance that there is sufficient capacity to respond to an emergency. The licensee has to provide an assurance to the commission that the appropriate measures are in place to respond to all emergencies.