Natural Resources Committee on April 23rd, 2026

[Colin Moses]

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's focus is on ensuring safety and security, the protection of the environment and Canada's alignment with our international agreements on the operation of nuclear weapons. We have no role in ownership decisions related to nuclear activities in Canada. Perhaps our colleagues from Natural Resources Canada might be a better placed to speak to those questions—

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

No, I'm just interested in the CNSC here.

You don't have a view of Canadian sovereignty or some of the slogans. You're not “elbows up”, then, it sounds like.

[Colin Moses]

Our role is to align to the mandate that's given to us by Parliament, which is focused on the regulation of nuclear activities. That's where we limit our focus.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

I'm not questioning your loyalty to the country. I know you're a good Canadian. It's a little tongue-in-cheek, but it's important because of the climate that we're in.

To relate it to a real-world example, you get two applications for similar projects in a province at the same time. One is owned by an American company and one is owned by Canada. You give priority to the Canadian one, I'm assuming, but I'd like to hear from you.

[Colin Moses]

Again, the ownership of those specific projects is not our concern. Maybe to give you a very specific example, we had a similar situation in Saskatchewan recently. We had two coincident regulatory reviews looking at uranium mines and mills in northern Saskatchewan: the Rook I project and the Denison project. Both of those proceeded through our regulatory process in a coincident manner. We looked at the questions in parallel, worked with both proponents equally and held almost coincident commission proceedings—

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

We didn't give a preference to the Canadian one in the example that I asked.

You brought up Rook I. It was for over seven years that it was sitting at the regulator. We'll get back to that project later on in questioning.

You would be the licensing body that would license a new heavy-water production facility in Canada or a nuclear enrichment facility. Is that correct? That would fall to you.

[Colin Moses]

That's correct. We have licensed heavy-water production facilities in the past. There are no longer any of those facilities operational in Canada. Similarly, any conversion or enrichment activities would fall under the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's mandate.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

That would be very concerning. It is a concern in the industry that those are the two critical elements. If we're talking about our energy security with nuclear, those would be the two weak elements.

I'm sure that you do forward planning and forecasting, but in the current path we're on, we're reliant on foreign states for our heavy water and our enrichment. Is that correct?

[Colin Moses]

Perhaps my colleagues from Natural Resources could speak to certain aspects of that question, but—

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

We don't enrich in Canada.

[Colin Moses]

—I would say that the history of CANDU technology involved the use of heavy water in the moderator of these reactors. That heavy water is used to moderate the neutron flow to facilitate the nuclear reaction, and as part of that—

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

We don't produce any of the heavy water in Canada anymore.

Between the two projects, which one could be easier to license? Would it be the heavy water one, which we're going to need? Also, with the GE Hitachi SMR coming online, we're going to need enrichment. Some forward planning by the department would have sketched out what that would look like. Which one is easier?

[Colin Moses]

If I could, I'll finish with the previous question.

As part of the initial preparation for the CANDU reactors and other research, a significant stockpile of heavy water was created, and that is maintained in Canada.

With respect to your question around our regulatory oversight, both would follow our rigorous regulatory review. We'd look at them against a series of different technical considerations, ensure that the proponent and we—

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Which one is the easiest of those, sir? Is one going to be quicker?

[Colin Moses]

Both are looked at comprehensively—

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

So we're not going to pick which one we're going to need.

You brought up the NexGen Rook I project. It took over seven years to get approval. What is the CNSC doing to increase efficiencies and reduce bloated approval timelines?

[Colin Moses]

I appreciate the question.

The CNSC recognizes the importance of timely regulatory decisions. As part of that, we've reviewed our current internal processes. We've looked at and prioritized our work. We've actually refocused, given the scale of nuclear development in Canada, on current applications before us to ensure that we're ready and prepared to regulate those facilities.

In the case—

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Shannon Stubbs]

That is the round, so you can finish your reply.

[Corey Tochor, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Could you build that out a little more in a written response? I think that seven years is way too long.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Shannon Stubbs]

That's the round.

Now we'll move to the parliamentary secretary for five minutes.

[Claude Guay, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much to all the officials for the work you do for all Canadians.

Mr. Orencsak, I'd like to talk about the first-mile and last-mile fund, which is included in the main estimates.

Can you explain how this fund can increase the viability of mining projects so that Canada can develop the immense resource deposits it has?

The committee did a study on critical minerals, so we are aware of Canada's strengths and the role the fund can play in funding the private sector. The idea is to make infrastructure more viable and to make it possible for our minerals, once they are extracted, to be delivered within Canada or to other attractive markets.

You can ask one of your assistants to answer if you wish.

[Greg Orencsak]

The first and last mile fund is a $1.5-billion fund. The purpose of the fund is to help address some of the infrastructure gaps, which, if addressed, could help accelerate the development of new critical mineral resources and support the regions in which some of this activity takes place. It would support supply chains and would also help improve market access.

I'll give you some examples of how the fund would enable that. It could support the development of mining sites. If roads, infrastructure or transmission lines are required to enable those sites, those would be eligible expenditures from the fund. It could also help support midstream processing for priority projects.

The other way the fund can help accelerate the development of critical mineral deposits is in the recognition that a lot of these deposits are located in areas with indigenous interest and in indigenous territories. The fund also provides funding to support and enable indigenous engagement and participation throughout the mining value chain.

[Claude Guay, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Thank you very much for that comprehensive answer.

I also note that the contributions for the smart renewables and electrification pathways program have increased from $222 million to $372 million.

Mr. Orencsak, how does this increase reflect your department's priorities and the work you are doing to develop a more sustainable energy grid? We all know that it needs to be modernized.

[Greg Orencsak]

The total commitment from the department over a 15-year period is about $4.5 billion for this program. It's helping with the objectives that you've outlined in a number of different ways. It's helping to support the deployment of grid modernization so that grids are up to date. It's helping to support projects associated with energy storage and renewable energy. It's helping to advance transmission projects across Canada. It's also helping with predevelopment and capacity building to support how communities are preparing to develop renewable energy projects and grid modernization projects.

If you're interested, I'm happy to provide examples of projects that have been funded by the programs.

[Claude Guay, Liberal, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC]

Does this program benefit indigenous communities?