Nuclear Security Regulations (SOR/2025-219)

Security Personnel

Marginal note:Clearance required

54 A licensee must not permit an employee, or any other person who is under contract to the licensee, to carry out the duties of security personnel or those related to nuclear security intelligence unless it has granted the person an enhanced security clearance.

Nuclear Security Officers

Marginal note:Written authorization

• 55 (1) A person must not act as a nuclear security officer unless the licensee grants them written authorization to do so.

• Marginal note:Requirements for authorization

  (2) Before granting the authorization, the licensee must

  • (a) ensure that it has granted the person an enhanced security clearance;

  • (b) ensure that the person has received training on, and that their knowledge and skill has been evaluated with respect to, the following topics as they relate to the duties of nuclear security officers at the high-security site:

    • (i) first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation,

    • (ii) their duties when responding to nuclear security events, including the use of force,

    • (iii) security procedures and nuclear security measures at the high-security site,

    • (iv) threats to nuclear security, including sabotage and the unauthorized removal of nuclear substances, and

    • (v) the licensee’s obligations under the Act and its regulations that are relevant to their duties;

  • (c) ensure that, if the person has previously been granted high-security site access clearance, the person has participated in continuing training related to the topics referred to paragraph (b); and

  • (d) obtain the following documents from the person:

    • (i) documentary proof that the person is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,

    • (ii) a certificate, signed by a qualified medical practitioner, certifying that the person does not have a medical condition that would prevent them from performing the tasks that are likely to be assigned by the licensee,

    • (iii) a certificate, signed by a fitness consultant who is recognized by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology or a person with equivalent or higher qualifications, certifying that the person is physically able to perform the tasks that are likely to be assigned by the licensee, and

    • (iv) a certificate, signed by a qualified psychologist, certifying that the person is psychologically able to perform the tasks that are likely to be assigned by the licensee.

• Marginal note:Assessment by licensee

  (3) Before granting the authorization to a person, the licensee must assess the person’s knowledge of the security procedures and nuclear security measures that are relevant to their duties and their ability to carry them out.

• Marginal note:Period and conditions

  (4) The authorization may be granted for a period of no more than five years and must be subject to any terms and conditions that are necessary to minimize the risk to the security of the high-security site.

• Marginal note:Copy of information and documents

  (5) If requested by the person referred to in subsection (2), the licensee must provide them with a copy of all information and documents relating to the authorization that are in the licensee’s possession and that were provided to the licensee by or on behalf of that person.

Nuclear Security Support Person

Marginal note:Written authorization

• 56 (1) A person must not act as a nuclear security support person unless the licensee has granted the person written authorization to do so and, if the authorization is one referred to in subsection (3), they are escorted in accordance with subsection (4).

• Marginal note:Authorization — without escort

  (2) The licensee may grant an authorization to a person to act as a nuclear security support person without an escort if it has granted the person an enhanced security clearance for the high-security site.

• Marginal note:Authorization — with escort

  (3) The licensee may grant an authorization to a person to act as a nuclear security support person with an escort if it has obtained the following information and documents in respect of the person:

  • (a) their name;

  • (b) the address of their principal residence;

  • (c) the name and business address of their employer; and

  • (d) a copy of two pieces of valid government-issued identification, one of which must be photo identification.

• Marginal note:Conditions — escort required

  (4) An authorization granted under subsection (3) must be made subject to the following conditions:

  • (a) that the person enters or remains in the protected area or inner area only for the purpose of carrying out duties required by the licensee;

  • (b) that, when the person is in a protected area, they are escorted at all times by a person who is authorized under subsection (2);

  • (c) that, when the person is in a vital area, they are escorted at all times by a person who is authorized under subsection (2); and

  • (d) that, when the person is in an inner area, they are escorted at all times by a person who is authorized under subsection (2) and two other persons who are authorized to enter and remain in the inner area with an escort.

• Marginal note:Period

  (5) An authorization referred to in subsection (2) may be granted for a period of no more than five years.

• Marginal note:Conditions

  (6) An authorization granted under subsection (2) or (3) must be subject to any terms and conditions that are necessary to minimize the risk to the security of the high-security site.

• Marginal note:Copy of information and documents

  (7) If requested by the person referred to in subsection (2), the licensee must provide them with a copy of all information and documents relating to the authorization that are in the licensee’s possession and that were provided to the licensee by or on behalf of that person.

Central Alarm Station Operator

Marginal note:Written authorization

• 57 (1) A person must not act as a central alarm station operator unless the licensee grants them written authorization to do so.

• Marginal note:Requirements for authorization

  (2) Before granting the authorization, the licensee must

  • (a) ensure that it has granted the person an enhanced security clearance;

  • (b) ensure that the person has received training on the following topics:

    • (i) the operation of the central alarm station,

    • (ii) their duties when responding to nuclear security events,

    • (iii) security procedures and nuclear security measures at the high-security site,

    • (iv) threats to nuclear security, including sabotage and the unauthorized removal of nuclear substances, and

    • (v) the licensee’s obligations under the Act and its regulations that are relevant to their duties; and

  • (c) obtain the following documents from the person:

    • (i) documentary proof that the person is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,

    • (ii) a certificate, signed by a qualified medical practitioner, certifying that the person does not have a medical condition that would prevent them from performing the tasks that are likely to be assigned by the licensee, and

    • (iii) a certificate, signed by a qualified psychologist, certifying that the person is psychologically able to perform the tasks that are likely to be assigned by the licensee.

• Marginal note:Period and conditions

  (3) The authorization may be granted for a period of no more than five years and must be subject to any terms and conditions that are necessary to minimize the risk to the security of the high-security site.

• Marginal note:Copy of information and documents

  (4) If requested by the person referred to in subsection (2), the licensee must provide them with a copy of all information and documents relating to the authorization that are in the licensee’s possession and that were provided to the licensee by or on behalf of that person.

Record

Marginal note:List of persons

• 58 (1) A licensee must keep an up-to-date list of each person to whom an authorization has been granted under section 55, 56 or 57 and that identifies the authorization.

• Marginal note:List to be provided

  (2) The licensee must, on request, provide a copy of the list to the Commission or an inspector.

Revocation

Marginal note:Conditions

• 59 (1) A licensee must revoke an authorization granted to a person under this Part if

  • (a) the licensee concludes, based on an investigation, that the person poses or could pose an unreasonable risk to the health or safety of persons or the security of the high-security site;

  • (b) the person is no longer employed by or otherwise under contract to the licensee;

  • (c) the duties or functions of the person have been completed, suspended or otherwise terminated;

  • (d) the person no longer requires the authorization to carry out their duties; or

  • (e) the person provided false or misleading information to obtain the authorization.

• Marginal note:Commission to be notified

  (2) The licensee must notify the Commission in writing of any revocation made under paragraph (1)(a) or (e) within five business days after the day on which the revocation is made.

Nuclear Security Measures

Power Supply

Marginal note:Uninterrupted power supply

60 A high-security site must be equipped with devices that, in the event of the loss of the power supply, maintain an uninterrupted power supply for a period of time that is sufficient to allow for an alternate continuous power supply to be implemented for all critical security measures that require a power supply and that are described in the nuclear security plan.

Protected Area

Marginal note:Perimeter enclosed by physical barrier

• 61 (1) A protected area must be enclosed by a physical barrier that is located at its perimeter.

• Marginal note:Other nuclear security measures

  (2) The perimeter of the protected area must be

  • (a) protected by the following nuclear security measures:

    • (i) two or more independent nuclear security measures that detect intrusion or attempted intrusion and that are designed and installed such that the failure of one measure does not prevent the intrusion or attempted intrusion from being detected and an alarm from being triggered,

    • (ii) a nuclear security measure that detects any tampering or attempted tampering that may cause any of the measures referred to in subparagraph (i) or (iv) to malfunction or cease to function,

    • (iii) a nuclear security measure that, when an event referred to in subparagraph (i) or (ii) is detected, triggers a continuous alarm that is audible and visible in the central alarm station and that can only be shut off from inside the station by a central alarm station operator, and

    • (iv) two or more independent nuclear security measures that facilitate an immediate assessment of the cause of the alarm by a central alarm station operator; or

  • (b) kept under the direct visual surveillance of a nuclear security officer who is equipped with

    • (i) a device that enables communication with the central alarm station, and

    • (ii) a device that can trigger a continuous alarm that is audible and visible in the central alarm station and that can only be shut off from inside the station by a central alarm station operator.

• Marginal note:Design, construction and implementation

  (3) The physical barrier must be designed and constructed and the other nuclear security measures must be designed and implemented such that together they

  • (a) provide sufficient time for the off-site response force or, if any, the on-site nuclear response force to respond to any intrusion into the protected area; and

  • (b) reduce the risk of forced entry into the protected area by any vehicle.

• Marginal note:Security facilities

  (4) Permanent security facilities such as guard posts and vehicle portals may join with the physical barrier if a continuous barrier is maintained.

• Marginal note:Means of entry or exit

  (5) Each gate, door, window or other means of entry or exit in the physical barrier must be

  • (a) constructed so that it can be closed and securely locked to resist unauthorized entry; and

  • (b) kept closed and securely locked except when persons or land vehicles are entering or exiting the protected area under the direct visual surveillance of a nuclear security officer.

Marginal note:Unobstructed areas

• 62 (1) Both sides of the physical barrier referred to in subsection 61(1) must be bordered by an unobstructed area that is free from any structures, equipment or other obstructions and is large enough to allow for the unrestricted observation of the movement of any person or object within the area.

• Marginal note:Lighting

  (2) An unobstructed area must be continuously and uniformly illuminated at an intensity that allows the presence of any person or object within the area to be clearly observed and assessed.

Marginal note:Vehicle and vessel barriers

63 The perimeter of a protected area must be protected by a nuclear security measure that is designed to protect against the forced entry of land vehicles — and, if the protected area is adjacent to a body of water, vessels — into the protected area.

Vital Areas

Marginal note:Identification process

64 A licensee must establish a process to identify vital areas and keep a record that sets out that process.

Marginal note:Nuclear security measures

• 65 (1) A vital area must be protected by nuclear security measures that

  • (a) are in addition to those used to protect the protected area;

  • (b) control access to the vital area;

  • (c) detect unauthorized access to the vital area;

  • (d) delay adversaries who are described in the design basis threat or the threat and risk assessment long enough to ensure that an effective intervention can be made;

  • (e) triggers a continuous alarm that is audible and visible in the central alarm station in the event that an unattended point of entry or exit is opened and that can only be shut off from inside the station by a central alarm station operator; and

  • (f) are monitored to ensure that any tampering or attempted tampering with the measures is detected and assessed.

• Marginal note:Means of entry or exit

  (2) Each gate, door, window or other means of entry or exit in a vital area must be securely locked when it is unattended.

Marginal note:List of persons

66 A licensee must keep an up-to-date list of all persons who have access to keys, keycards or any other system, including a computer system, that controls access to a vital area.