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The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) posts information on its public hearings to its website.

Notice of Hearing

Preparing for A Safe and Sustainable Future

What is a licence?

Every nuclear facility in Canada must have a licence from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Canada’s independent nuclear regulator.

The licence sets out what activities can take place and establishes strict requirements for safety, security, environmental protection, and performance. Whiteshell Laboratories has operated under a regulated licence model since the site was established in the 1960s and has a long history of safe and responsible operations. The current licence was issued in January 2025 and expires in December 2027.

The proposed licence renewal does not seek approval for new activities. CNL intends to continue operating within its existing mandate and authorized scope of work.

The Whiteshell Reactor – 1 Decommissioning Project is out of scope of this licence renewal decision, and the ongoing Federal Environmental Assessment will continue.

Why is CNL seeking this licence term?

The work underway at Whiteshell Laboratories will continue for several years as CNL advances key decommissioning and environmental remediation projects, refines long-term site closure strategies, and maintains meaningful engagement with Indigenous Nations, communities, organizations, and governments. Continued collaboration will help ensure that future decisions regarding the site are informed by diverse perspectives and community interests. CNL’s request for an eight-year licence provides the stability and predictability needed to safely and effectively advance the Whiteshell Laboratories Restoration Project.

Safety & Environmental Protection

The Whiteshell Laboratories site has a long history of operating safely and protecting workers, the public, and the environment. CNL’s commitment to health, safety, environmental protection, and continuous improvement remains the foundation of all activities at the site.

Regulatory Certainty with Continued Oversight

The CNSC will continue to oversee the Whiteshell Laboratories site through inspections, compliance verification activities, reporting requirements, and periodic reviews. Environmental risk assessments and monitoring programs will continue to protect people and the environment.

Informed Future Use and End State Planning

The future of the Whiteshell Laboratories site is of significant interest to Indigenous Nations, local communities, and the public.

An 8-year licence provides the time needed to continue meaningful engagement, gathering perspectives on potential future uses of the site.

What will not change?

The CNSC will continue to closely regulate and inspect the Whiteshell Laboratories site.

CNL will continue to:

  • Meet strict regulatory requirements
  • Report regularly on safety and environmental performance
  • Conduct extensive environmental monitoring
  • Share information with the public and Indigenous Nations and communities
  • Participate in ongoing community engagement activities

Same oversight. Same accountability.

This is the optimal licence duration for the Whiteshell Laboratories… and we are ready!

Whiteshell Laboratories has been operating safely and responsibly for more than 60 years and is now focused on decommissioning, environmental remediation, and environmental stewardship activities that support the site’s long-term closure objectives. Throughout its history, the site has maintained a strong commitment to safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental protection, while adapting to evolving standards and requirements.

Over the current licence period, CNL has continued to make significant progress toward the decommissioning and restoration of the Whiteshell Laboratories site.

CNL’s confidence in seeking a 8-year licence is supported by mature safety, environmental protection, and compliance programs that guide all activities at the site. These programs are backed by rigorous regulatory oversight, comprehensive monitoring, regular reporting, and a culture of continuous improvement that prioritizes safety.

The environmental effects associated with site activities are well understood and closely monitored through extensive environmental surveillance, assessment, and reporting programs, including Indigenous-led environmental monitoring. This ongoing work helps ensure the continued protection of people, communities, and the environment, while providing transparency and accountability to regulators, Indigenous Nations and communities, stakeholders, and the public.

An 8-year licence provides the stability needed to progress the complex, multi-year decommissioning and remediation project, and to support meaningful engagement on future land use and end-state planning.

Taken together, CNL’s decades of operating experience, strong safety performance, demonstrated progress in site remediation, and well-established management programs provide a solid foundation for the proposed licence renewal and the continued safe stewardship of the Whiteshell Laboratories site.

Steps in the Process

  • April 2026

    CNL submitted its licence renewal application to the CNSC for review.

  • September 2026

    CNSC posts Notice of Hearing and makes additional information on its Participant Funding Program available.

  • May 2027

    Commission Member Documents from CNL and CNSC available on the CNSC website or by request.

  • July 22, 2027

    Requests to intervene must be filed with the CNSC Commission Registry.

  • October 2027

    The CNSC will hold a public hearing where the application and interventions are discussed. Members of the public, Indigenous Nations and communities, organizations, and other interested parties may be invited to participate.

  • Winter 2027-28

    The CNSC will make an independent decision on the licence renewal application.

  • Your Voice Matters

    Environmental stewardship and the future of the Whiteshell Laboratories site are important to Indigenous Nations, local communities, and all Canadians. As the site progresses toward closure, decisions made today will help shape its long-term legacy and the condition in which it is left for future generations. The CNSC’s licensing process is designed to ensure community members have an opportunity to participate before a decision is made. We encourage you to learn about our operations, review the information we share, attend community meetings, and ask questions. When the CNSC opens the public participation process in 2027, we encourage you to take part. Every submission is reviewed by the Commission and becomes part of the public record. Whether your contribution is a letter, a statement, or a presentation, your participation can help inform the Commission’s decision.

    Contact us about Your Voice Matters

  • Make Your Voice Heard

    If you believe the Whiteshell Laboratories has earned your confidence through its commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, decommissioning and remediation end state planning, and ommunity engagement, we encourage you to share your views with the CNSC as part of the licence renewal process. In 2027, you will have opportunities to provide your perspective on the role the Whiteshell Laboratories plays in your community and in Canada by providing a written letter or, potentially, an oral intervention at the public hearing. More information on how to participate can be found in the CNSC’s Notice of Hearing.

    Notice of Hearing about Make Your Voice Heard

Support for your participation in the process

Participant Funding

To ensure that all parties have the resources they need to participate fully in the licencing process, the CNSC offers a Participant Funding program.

Eligible applicants are individuals or organizational representatives who can demonstrate one or more of the following:

  • a direct, local interest in the project area
  • Indigenous traditional knowledge or community knowledge relevant to the project
  • potential or established Indigenous and/or treaty rights that may be impacted by the project
  • information that is relevant to the project and helps inform the CNSC review

  • Allan Caron

    As we continue progressing toward the long-term remediation of the Whiteshell Laboratories, our focus remains on responsible environmental stewardship, project delivery, and meaningful engagement with Indigenous Nations, and the public. The proposed licence renewal will provide the certainty required to advance complex decommissioning and remediation work while maintaining accountability, transparency, and regulatory oversight. We look forward to continuing this work and helping shape a positive legacy for future generations.

    - Allan Caron, General Manager and Whiteshell Laboratories Site Licence Holder