Governance and accountability

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Every year, in accordance with the NFWA, the NWMO produces an annual report, which is made public on our website and tabled in Parliament. The Minister issues a statement on it each year that can be read at www.nwmo.ca/ministerstatement.

Every third year, the NFWA requires an expanded version of the annual report, which reports on the previous three years and includes comprehensive comments from the Advisory Council about its progress and findings of the NWMO. The next triennial report will be published in March 2023.

Ontario Power Generation, New Brunswick Power Corporation and Hydro-Québec are the founding members of the NWMO. The Membership Agreement and bylaws set out member roles and responsibilities in supporting the objectives of the NFWA and the NWMO’s implementation mandate. The NWMO regularly briefs our member organizations. In accordance with our bylaws, the NWMO’s Annual General Meeting of Members was held in June 2021.

The AFR committee is responsible for monitoring the integrity of the NWMO’s internal control and management information systems, approving 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 five times in 2021, plus one joint AFR-Human Resources, Compensation and Governance (HRCG) committee meeting.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, the committee had five directors: Beth Summers (Chair), Lesley Gallinger, Ronald L. Jamieson, Josée Pilon and Wayne Robbins.

The HRCG committee is responsible for overseeing the NWMO’s human resources functions, including compensation practices, human resources policy, organization design, labour relations, the pension plan and governance. The HRCG committee met five times in 2021, plus one joint AFR-HRCG committee meeting.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, the committee had five directors: Lesley Gallinger (Chair), Sean Granville, Josée Pilon, Beth Summers and Wayne Robbins.

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 Adaptive Phased Management. The Project Oversight committee met four times in 2021.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, the committee had four directors: Glenn Jager (Chair), Lesley Gallinger, Jason Nouwens and Laurie Swami.

Through the Siting committee, the Board maintains oversight of the site selection process and manages any identified risks associated with its execution. The committee met four times in 2021.

As of Dec. 31, 2021, the committee had five directors: Ronald L. Jamieson (Chair), Glenn Jager, Sean Granville, Jason Nouwens and Wayne Robbins.

The Council of Elders and Youth is an independent advisory body with members from First Nations and Métis communities. It provides counsel to the NWMO on how to apply Indigenous Knowledge in implementing Adaptive Phased Management and enhancing the development and maintenance of good relations with First Nations and Métis communities and organizations. More information about the Council of Elders and Youth is available online (www.nwmo.ca/eldersandyouth).

Established by the NWMO in 2009, in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Municipal Forum is made up of municipal leaders with experience and expertise on municipal issues and challenges. It provides advice to the NWMO on municipal perspectives and processes to help guide our engagement and outreach. More information about the Municipal Forum is available online (www.nwmo.ca/municipalforum).

The ERG was established in 2018 by the NWMO to provide independent expert advice and guidance on environmental programs and impact assessment planning, including engagement and the interweaving of Indigenous Knowledge and western science, as well as international best practices. Made up of professionals from various academic and cultural backgrounds, the group meets quarterly to discuss strategic issues related to assessing potential impacts of the project on the natural environment. More information about the ERG is available online (www.nwmo.ca/erg).

The APM-GRG was established by the NWMO to ensure that site evaluations are conducted in a consistent and traceable manner that consistently meets or exceeds best international practices. It reviews and provides guidance on the NWMO’s geoscience site assessment approach, methods and findings. The APM-GRG is comprised of five internationally recognized experts from Canada, Australia, Sweden and Switzerland, who combine extensive multidisciplinary experience in areas relevant to the siting of deep geological repositories in both crystalline and sedimentary rock formations. More information about the APM-GRG is available online (www.nwmo.ca/apmgrg).

The Site Selection Review Group is made up of three internationally respected members from varied professional backgrounds, who provide independent advice and guidance on the NWMO’s final approach, methods and criteria in advance of the site selection in 2023, to ensure the decision-making process is reasonable, comprehensive, credible and rigorous. More information about the Site Selection Review Group is available online (www.nwmo.ca/peerreview).

The NWMO established the Community-Based Transportation Working Group to seek feedback from a broad range of individuals across Ontario, Québec and New Brunswick about how to implement the organization’s transportation planning framework. The working group is made up of individuals acting as independent advisors, bringing forward their own thoughts and perspectives about transportation. Feedback and advice are sought more specifically on envisioning collaborative transportation planning, and on opportunities and challenges related to engagement and dialogue for the transportation program. More information about the Community-Based Transportation Working Group is available online (www.nwmo.ca/transportationworkinggroup).

The NWMO works with leading scientists and experts from universities, in the industry or as part of international research groups, in order to ensure our work is based on the best science. We continue to seek independent external experts to review and comment on our technical work through peer reviews (www.nwmo.ca/peerreview) when publishing research results in scientific journals and at conferences. We also seek out peer reviews or request state-of-science reviews on specific topics be prepared by leading experts.