Access to information requests

Our ongoing research on the energy transition has found that most government and public entity websites provide mostly promotional rather than factual information about nuclear energy.

In an effort to uncover more information, CEDAR investigators are filing requests for behind-the-scenes information from governments and public agencies. Federal requests are called Access to Information (ATI) and those in New Brunswick are Request for Information (RTI).

We’re putting the responses here for public access. We hope these files will be useful to researchers working on topics related to the energy transition.

Anyone interested in behind-the-scenes info should check out the site developed by the Globe and Mail, Secret Canada. This database of government information requests contains records of thousands of requests made to federal and provincial governments as well as public agencies across Canada.

ATI requests to the Government of Canada

Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)

CIB 1) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022, received February 2023. HERE (pdf 2.2 MB • 32 pages)

CIB 2) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2023 and April 2024. Requested December April 2024, received April 2024. No records found.

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

CNSC 1) Statements issued expressing Canada’s policy with respect to the “recycling” or “reprocessing” of nuclear fuel waste. Requested December 2022, received April 2023. HERE (pdf 46.6 MB • 418 pages)

CNSC 2) Statements issued between 1977 and 2022 expressing Canada’s policy with respect to nuclear weapons proliferation and security risks in relation to plutonium. Requested December 2022, received April 2023. HERE (pdf 308 KB • 11 pages)

CNSC 3) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022, received August 2023. HERE (pdf 12.6 MB • 576 pages)

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

ECCC 1) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022, received March 2024. HERE (pdf 2.2 MB • 139 pages)

Finance Canada

FIN 1) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022, received February 2023. HERE (pdf 16 MB • 158 pages)

Global Affairs Canada

GAC 1) Statements issued expressing Canada’s policy with respect to the “recycling” or “reprocessing” of nuclear fuel waste. Requested December 2022, received May 2023. HERE (pdf 9.3 MB • 98 pages)

GAC 2) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022, still waiting for response!

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC)

IAAC 1) Information (including but not limited to correspondence, briefing notes, records and emails) relating to the request to designate the SMR project at Point Lepreau for an impact assessment spanning October to December 2022. Requested January 2023, released September 2023. HERE (pdf 55.3 MB • 602 pages)

IAAC 2) Information relating to the request to designate the SMR project at Point Lepreau for an impact assessment spanning June to October 2022. Requested October 2022, released January 2023. HERE (pdf 14.2 MB • 138 pages)

innovation, science and Economic development canada (ISED)

ISED 1) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022, received March 2024. HERE (pdf 8.1 MB • 111 pages)

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

NRCAN 1) Public statements expressing Canada’s policy with respect to the
“recycling” or “reprocessing” of nuclear fuel waste OR nuclear weapons proliferation and security risks in relation to plutonium. Requested December 2022, received February 2023. No records found, letter HERE (pdf 162 KB • 2 pages)

NRCAN 2) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022. Interim response received August 2023. HERE (pdf 5.1 MB • 76 pages). Final response received December 2023. HERE (pdf 2.6 MB • 33 pages)

Privy Council Office (PCO)

PCO 1) Statements issued expressing Canada’s policy with respect to the “recycling” or “reprocessing” of nuclear fuel waste. Requested December 2022, received February 2023. HERE (pdf 2.7 MB • 122 pages)

PCO 2) Statements issued between 1977 and 2022 expressing Canada’s policy with respect to nuclear weapons proliferation and security risks in relation to plutonium. Requested December 2022, received May 2023. HERE (pdf 29.8 MB • 98 pages)

PCO 3) Communications related to reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuel received between January 2016 and December 2022. Requested December 2022, received May 2023. HERE (pdf 43.8 MB • 803 pages)

RTI requests to New Brunswick government

Environment and Local government

NB DELG 1) Communications related to nuclear energy in which any of the following topics are mentioned: recycling or reprocessing used (irradiated/spent) nuclear fuel, pyroprocessng, plutonium or plutonium extraction, nuclear weapons, nuclear proliferation, enriched uranium or HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium). Requested July 2023, received August 2023. HERE (pdf 450 KB • 1 page)

Natural Resources and Energy Development

NB DERD 1) Communications related to nuclear energy in which any of the following topics are mentioned: recycling or reprocessing used (irradiated/spent) nuclear fuel, pyroprocessng, plutonium or plutonium extraction, nuclear weapons, nuclear proliferation, enriched uranium or HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium). Requested July 2023, received August 2023. HERE (pdf 11.6 MB • 82 pages)

NB Power

NB POWER 1) Communications related to nuclear energy in which any of the following topics are mentioned: recycling or reprocessing used (irradiated/spent) nuclear fuel, pyroprocessng, plutonium or plutonium extraction, nuclear weapons, nuclear proliferation, enriched uranium or HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium). Requested July 2023, received November 2023. HERE (pdf 19.2 MB • 505 pages)