We are committed to safely managing Canada`s used nuclear fuel over the long term. Our plan for doing this, known as Adaptive Phased Management, was developed in close collaboration with the public and specialists over a three-year period. It reflects goals and values expressed by Canadians.

Ethical and social framework

The NWMO’s ethical and social framework sets out clear principles that guide our planning, engagement and decision-making activities.

The principles that guide our planning, engagement, and decision-making activities are:

Respect for life in all its forms, including minimization of harm to human beings and other sentient creatures;
Respect for future generations of human beings, other species, and the biosphere as a whole;
Respect for peoples and cultures; Justice (across groups, regions and generations);
Fairness (to everyone affected); and

Sensitivity to the differences of values and interpretation that different individuals and groups bring to the dialogue.
We adopted these ethical and social principles in 2005, based on the report of the NWMO Round Table on Ethics. We reviewed the framework in 2011, and again in 2018, to ensure it remains appropriate to guide new phases of our work. The framework is considered a living document, and as such, it will continue to be reviewed and discussed with communities involved in the site selection process and interested citizens.

Mandate

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) was established in 2002 by Canada’s nuclear electricity producers in accordance with the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act (NFWA). Operating on a not-for-profit basis under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, we are responsible for designing and implementing Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel.

The founding members of the NWMO are Ontario Power Generation (OPG), New Brunswick Power Corporation and Hydro-Québec (HQ). These organizations, along with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), are mandated to fund our operations.

Collaboratively Developing Canada`s Plan

The NFWA required the NWMO to study approaches for the management of used nuclear fuel, and recommend to the Government of Canada a preferred approach. We initiated the study in 2002. In 2005, after a three-year dialogue with Canadians and Indigenous peoples from coast-to-coast, we submitted our proposed approach to the Minister of Natural Resources.

In June 2007, the Government of Canada selected this approach, known as Adaptive Phased Management (APM), as Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel.

Implementing Canada`s Plan

The NWMO is now responsible for implementing APM, subject to the regulatory decision-making process. We are committed to proceeding in stages, in an open, transparent and inclusive manner.

An early milestone was the collaborative design of a nine-step process to select a site for Canada’s used fuel repository, and a Centre of Expertise that will be a hub for national and international collaboration. The process was finalized in 2010, after extensive input from Canadians and Indigenous peoples. In May of the same year, we proceeded to the first step. We initiated a broad program to provide information, answer questions and build awareness among Canadians and Indigenous peoples about APM and the siting process.

The site selection process is community-driven. It is designed to ensure that the chosen site is safe, secure and has an informed and willing host. The process must meet the highest scientific, professional and ethical standards. The safety and appropriateness of any potential site will be evaluated through a series of progressively more detailed scientific, technical and social assessments. This will take place over numerous steps spanning many years.

Funding Canada`s Plan

The NFWA requires the nuclear fuel waste owners – OPG, HQ, NB Power and AECL – to establish segregated trust funds to finance the implementation of APM. These funds were established in 2002. Contributions are made annually by the used nuclear fuel owners. Audited financial statements are made public.

In 2008, as required by the legislation, the NWMO proposed a funding formula to determine the levels of deposits to be made each year by the used nuclear fuel owners. The formula was approved by the Minister of Natural Resources in April 2009.

Establishing an Advisory Council

The NFWA also required the NWMO to establish an Advisory Council. The Council meets regularly. It provides us with ongoing advice and guidance on our work plans and activities. The Advisory Council`s independent comments on our work and our triennial reports are made public.

Vision, mission, values

In 2024, the NWMO will undertake work to refresh our vision, mission and values to reflect the evolving nature of our work as we prepare to:

Complete the site selection process for Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel; and
Develop a new site selection process for Canada’s plan for intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level radioactive waste.

Vision

Our vision is the long-term management of Canada’s nuclear waste in a manner that safeguards people and respects the environment, now and in the future.

Mission

The purpose of the NWMO is to develop and implement, collaboratively with Canadians, a management approach for the long-term care of Canada’s used nuclear fuel that is socially acceptable, technically sound, environmentally responsible and economically feasible. The NWMO is also responsible for implementing the plan for Canada`s intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level radioactive waste.

NWMO Profiles: Cherie Leslie Video