July 3, 2013 – Joe Oliver, Canada’s minister of natural resources, announced new measures coming into effect to “strengthen safety and environmental protection” in Canada’s nuclear sector: the Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations.

“Canada has a world-class regulator in the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission,” said Oliver. “Administrative monetary penalties will provide it with an additional means to enforce accountability and compliance.”

The new regulations authorize the use of financial penalties for violations of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, and are designed to address violations and instances of non-compliance with the act before larger issues arise. CNSC is to begin implementing the regulations immediately.

“These penalties are to address issues early, preempting the use of more severe enforcement measures which can include court-imposed sentences of $1 million and/or five years in jail for an indictable offence, and $500,000 and/or 18 months in jail for a summary conviction,” added Oliver.

These monetary penalties could range up to a maximum of $25,000 for individuals and up to a maximum of $100,000 for companies. Each day a violation continues is considered a separate incident and subject to an additional fine.

In developing the new regulations, CNSC says it carried out public consultations and consulted with stakeholders and other interested organizations and individuals. CNSC also issued a discussion paper and held information sessions for licensees.