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Trudea called upon to fix Canada’s nuclear law and oversight

Groups urge Trudeau to fix Canada’s nuclear law and oversight, National Observer By Mike De Souza  March 8th 2016 Canada needs to fix its nuclear safety law and put a stop to internal political strategizing by its industry watchdog that is putting public safety at risk, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was told in an open letter released on Tuesday.

The groups released the letter along with a federal strategy document showing that staff at the watchdog were recommending that management consider the “political environment” in 2015 prior to developing any changes needed to improve nuclear oversight.

Greenpeace Canada said this indicates there was political strategizing by the watchdog, theCanadian Safety Nuclear Commission, and demonstrates why the Liberal government has to clean up Canadian nuclear oversight………

All 14 groups, including MiningWatch Canada, EcoJustice and the Canadian Environmental Law Association, said that Japan and the European Union have increased the independence and transparency of their nuclear watchdogs in the wake of the disaster. But the groups argued that the previous federal government, led by former prime minister Stephen Harper, failed to keep pace with the other jurisdictions to prepare the country for any similar disaster in Canada.

“While the (Canadian watchdog) carried out a review of the technical failures that led to radioactive releases at Fukushima, it did not consider how institutional failures and industry-led regulation caused the accident,” said the letter to Trudeau. “This should be addressed as part of a public review process leading to the modernization of the (law).”…..

Greenpeace Canada nuclear analyst Shawn-Patrick Stensil said Trudeau needs to put a stop to the commission’s internal strategizing.

“In public the CNSC says Canada’s nuclear safety laws are fine, but behind closed doors they’re strategizing on how to amend the law without public input,” Stensil told National Observer. “If they’re not being honest with the public about things like this what else are they trying to hide? This is why Trudeau should clean house at the CNSC.”……..http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/03/08/news/groups-urge-trudeau-fix-canadas-nuclear-law-and-oversight

March 9, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, safety