Governance and accountability
Canadians and Indigenous peoples can trust that the organization responsible for the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel has a strong governance structure in place.
Transparency is one of the NWMO’s corporate values and is built into our governance structure, underscoring our commitment to communicate openly and responsibly, and to provide information about our approach, processes and decision-making. The NWMO is guided by a Transparency Policy that is aligned with all relevant freedom of information, access to information and privacy legislation.
The NWMO is federally mandated under the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act (NFWA). Our members are provincially owned Crown corporations that produce used nuclear fuel. As a not-for-profit corporation, the NWMO falls under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.
We are governed by a nine-member Board of Directors that is elected by the member organizations. The Board represents a range of perspectives from within and outside the nuclear industry and takes a leadership role in developing the corporation’s strategic direction.
The Advisory Council, an independent advisory body established under the NFWA, provides ongoing advice to the NWMO. Additional guidance and review on technical, social and Indigenous matters is provided by other independent expert bodies.
Sharing information and encouraging an exchange of perspectives are fundamental to our mandate to implement Canada’s plan. That is why we also seek independent review of our work through a number of external committees, including the Council of Knowledge Holders, Municipal Forum, Geoscience Review Group, Environmental Review Group and Site Selection Review Group. This helps ensure we are continuously pursuing excellence.
The NWMO’s integrated management system ensures we are well equipped to implement our vision, while protecting people and the environment for generations to come. During the 2020-22 period, we continued to enhance our management system to make sure it supports staff in executing their work in a manner that is appropriate for our evolving program and operations.
Annual and triennial reporting to the Minister
In accordance with the NFWA, the NWMO produces an annual report every year that is tabled in Parliament and published on our website. The Minister of Natural Resources issues a statement on it each year.
Every third year, the NWMO produces a triennial report as required by the NFWA. This report is an expanded version of the annual report and covers the previous three years. The previous triennial report was for the 2017-19 period that was published in March 2020.
Reporting to member organizations
The founding members of the NWMO are Ontario Power Generation, New Brunswick Power Corporation and Hydro-Québec. The Membership Agreement and bylaws set out member roles and responsibilities in support the objectives of the NFWA and the NWMO’s implementation mandate. The NWMO regularly briefs our member organizations and holds an Annual General Meeting.
Integrated management system
The NWMO continues to focus on ensuring our integrated management system supports our work on the project for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. That includes meeting the requirements of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and protecting people and the environment for generations to come. This is particularly important as we get closer to selecting a site for the deep geological repository in 2024 and then begin the regulatory decision-making process.
During the 2020-22 period, we continued to augment our management system to satisfy the CSA N286-12, Management System Requirements for Nuclear Facilities. We conducted N286-12 training and adapted our performance assessments to better assess compliance with N286-12 requirements. We developed a continuous learning and improvement program to engage all staff in contributing to the NWMO’s efforts to learn from experience and continually improve our processes. We also launched an enhanced process and tool for identifying appropriate quality assurance requirements using a risk-based assessment.
Board of Directors
Chair of the Board: Glenn Jager
President, CEO and Director: Laurie Swami
Directors: Lesley Gallinger, Sean Granville, Ronald L. Jamieson, Jason Nouwens, Josée Pilon, Subo Sinnathamby and Beth Summers.
The Board of Directors convened 22 formal meetings between 2020 and 2022. This included some additional meetings in 2020 to ensure strong governance as the organization managed the impacts of the pandemic. In 2021 and 2022, the Board continued to focus on recovery from the impacts of the pandemic on the NWMO’s work.
In addition to its regular meetings, the Board holds a strategy session each year with the NWMO’s executive team to consider long-term challenges and opportunities. However, this was not possible in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. Instead, strategic discussions were included in each of the Board’s other meetings that year. The Board continued to receive regular reports from the Advisory Council and held its annual meeting with the Advisory Council virtually to discuss relevant topics of importance.
The Board also endeavours to meet annually with the Council of Knowledge Holders to ensure decision-making aligns with Indigenous Knowledge and perspectives. These meetings, which were held both virtually and in person from 2020 through 2022 due to the pandemic, provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and understand decision-making that reflects upon and respects Indigenous peoples’ traditions, customs and values.
Glenn Jager
Chair of the Board
Laurie Swami
President, CEO and Director
Lesley Gallinger
Director
Sean Granville
Director
Ronald L. Jamieson
Director
Jason Nouwens
Director
Josée Pilon
Director
Subo Sinnathamby
Director
Beth Summers
Director
Committees of the Board
Audit, Finance and Risk (AFR) committee
The AFR committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the NWMO’s internal control and management information systems, making recommendations to the Board for the approval of the annual financial plans, ensuring the integrity of the NWMO’s reported financial performance, and providing oversight of the NWMO’s pension fund. The AFR committee met 16 times during the period from 2020 through 2022, and had three joint AFR-Human Resources, Compensation and Governance committee meetings.
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the committee had five directors: Beth Summers (Chair), Lesley Gallinger, Glenn Jager, Ronald L. Jamieson and Josée Pilon.
Human Resources, Compensation and Governance (HRCG) committee
The HRCG committee is responsible for overseeing the NWMO’s human resources functions, including compensation practices, human resources policies, organization design, labour relations, the pension plan and governance. The HRCG committee met 16 times during the period from 2020 through 2022, and had three joint AFR-HRCG committee meetings.
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the committee had five directors: Lesley Gallinger (Chair), Sean Granville, Glenn Jager, Josée Pilon and Beth Summers.
Project Oversight committee (previously Technical committee)
In 2020, the Technical committee transitioned to become the Project Oversight committee, reflecting the evolution towards a greater focus on project execution and oversight, while still maintaining primary oversight for the technical program.
The Project Oversight committee provides oversight of the NWMO’s project planning and execution, including safety, recommending new projects for Board approval, project planning and controls, contracting strategies and contractor performance, technical matters and project risk as it relates to the implementation of Canada’s plan. The Technical committee met two times in 2020, and the Project Oversight committee met 10 times during the period from 2020 through 2022.
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the Project Oversight committee had four directors: Sean Granville (Chair), Lesley Gallinger, Jason Nouwens and Subo Sinnathamby.
Siting committee
Through the Siting committee, the Board maintains oversight of the site selection process and advises on, oversees and monitors any identified risks associated with its execution. The committee met 12 times during the 2020-22 period.
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the committee had five directors: Ronald L. Jamieson (Chair), Sean Granville, Glenn Jager, Jason Nouwens and Subo Sinnathamby.
Officers (as of Dec. 31, 2022)
Chair of the Board:
Glenn Jager
President and CEO:
Laurie Swami
Vice-President and Chief Engineer:
Chris Boyle
Vice-President of Communications:
Lisa Frizzell
Chief Financial and Risk Officer:
Georgina Kossivas
Vice-President of Site Selection:
Lise Morton
Vice-President of Human Resources, and Chief Ethics Officer:
Jennifer Spragge
Vice-President and General Counsel, and Board Secretary:
Doug Taylor
Vice-President of Indigenous Relations and Strategic Programs:
Bob Watts
Vice-President of Regulatory Approvals:
Allan Webster
Chief Operating Officer:
Derek Wilson
Executive Committee:
Laurie Swami
President and CEO
Chris Boyle
Vice-President and Chief Engineer
Lisa Frizzell
Vice-President of Communications
Georgina Kossivas
Chief Financial and Risk Officer
Lise Morton
Vice-President of Site Selection
Jennifer Spragge
Vice-President of Human Resources, and Chief Ethics Officer
Doug Taylor
Vice-President and General Counsel, and Board Secretary
Bob Watts
Vice-President of Indigenous Relations and Strategic Programs
Allan Webster
Vice-President of Regulatory Approvals
Derek Wilson
Chief Operating Officer
Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is an independent, arm’s-length body that reviews and comments on the NWMO’s work, as required by the NFWA. Its reports appear in the NWMO’s triennial reports, published every three years.
The Advisory Council’s role is to:
- Ensure the views of the public and communities of interest are considered and reflected in a thoughtful, balanced way in the proposed approaches and reports of the NWMO; and
- Assist the NWMO in ensuring our processes are of good quality and are open, transparent, thorough and sound.
As the NWMO’s work progresses towards site selection, and as affected Indigenous organizations and potential host regions are identified, the NFWA requires that representatives from these communities be included in the Advisory Council.
Council members
There are currently nine Advisory Council members, representing a broad range of expertise, including engineering, community engagement, public affairs, environment, sustainable development, Indigenous relations, Indigenous Knowledge and community-based research.
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the members are: David R. Cameron (Chair), Donald Obonsawin (Vice-Chair), Joseph Cavalancia, Monica Gattinger, Dean Jacobs, Diane M. Kelly, Dougal McCreath, Stella Swanson and Linda Thompson.
During the 2020-22 period, the Advisory Council continued to provide advice to the NWMO in these key areas:
- Site assessment, engineering and technical transportation activities;
- Plans for establishing the final siting decision process and community willingness;
- Partnership development and community well-being funding to support building partnership agreements;
- Assessments of risks related to the NWMO’s work;
- Development of the NWMO’s transportation planning framework;
- Business planning activities and recovery plans related to pandemic delays;
- Development of the NWMO’s regulatory plans;
- Topics related to used fuel transportation;
- Reconciliation and Indigenous Knowledge activities; and
- Technical matters related to long-term safety.
David R. Cameron
Chair
Donald Obonsawin
Vice-Chair
Joseph Cavalancia
Member
Monica Gattinger
Member
Dean Jacobs
Member
Diane M. Kelly
Member
Dougal McCreath
Member
Stella Swanson
Member
Linda Thompson
Member
Council of Knowledge Holders (previously Council of Elders and Youth)
The Council of Knowledge Holders is an independent advisory body with members from Indigenous communities. It provides counsel to the NWMO on the application of Indigenous Knowledge in the implementation of Canada’s plan, and on enhancing the development and maintenance of good relations with Indigenous communities.
Knowledge Holders have much traditional knowledge to share with others. One of their roles is to aid decision-making based on this ancient knowledge. The NWMO is honoured to have received the counsel of Knowledge Holders over the past several years, including the period covered by this report.
The Council of Knowledge Holders grew from the Elders Forum, an advisory group established in 2005. In 2012, the Elders Forum evolved into a new advisory group, the Council of Elders and Youth, which was renamed the Council of Knowledge Holders in 2022.
Municipal Forum
The Municipal Forum is an assembly of municipal leaders with experience and expertise in municipal issues and challenges. Established by the NWMO in 2009, in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Municipal Forum provides advice on municipal perspectives and processes to help guide the NWMO’s engagement and outreach. It helps the NWMO incorporate best practices when communicating with local governments and associations, as well as helping us understand the needs and practices of municipalities that are considering hosting the project.
Membership of the forum has been refreshed during the 2020-22 period, as previous members retired or took on different roles.
Environmental Review Group (ERG)
The ERG was established by the NWMO in 2018 to provide independent expert advice and guidance on environmental programs and impact assessment theory and practice, including engagement and aligning with Indigenous Knowledge. The ERG is made up of professionals from a variety of academic and cultural backgrounds. It meets four times a year to discuss strategic issues related to assessing potential impacts of the project on the natural environment.
Adaptive Phased Management Geoscientific Review Group (APM-GRG)
Site Selection Review Group
These review group members have knowledge and experience in nuclear waste-related siting processes and international best practices, and are seeking to add a new member with experience in the application of Indigenous Knowledge to national infrastructure projects and partnerships.