moved for leave to introduce Bill C-508, An Act to amend the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (Minister).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today a bill to designate the Minister of the Environment as the minister to whom the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission must report.
Currently, the CNSC reports to the Minister of Natural Resources, the same minister to which Atomic Energy of Canada Limited reports.
This is a conflict of interest for the Minister of Natural Resources, whose mandate is to promote nuclear industry.
Canadians need to have confidence that their government is putting the needs of public safety and the environment ahead of the needs of the nuclear industry.
This simple but effective change provides more ministerial oversight to the nuclear industry of Canada and moves CNSC into a ministry with a mandate more in line with its responsibility to protect human health and the environment.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)