Technical Workshops

What Can I Expect? 

The Technical Workshops: 

1. Will provide participants an opportunity to learn more and to share their perspectives on the technical options related to the long-term management of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste and the priorities and key considerations that should shape an integrated strategy for Canada’s radioactive waste.
2. Will help identify the most common and important themes to bring forward in the process to develop the integrated strategy, as well as understand the key points of difference.
3. Will include consideration of a number of technical options for the integrated strategy, and the opportunity to provide feedback on those options.

Please note, there are a number of projects for long-term management of some of the radioactive waste under way in different parts of Canada. For example, the NWMO is implementing Canada's plan for the safe, long-term care of used nuclear fuel, known as Adaptive Phased Management (APM). Another example is the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) for the cleanup and local, long-term, safe management of historic low-level radioactive waste in the municipalities of Port Hope and Clarington. Those projects, as well as the future of the energy policy in Canada are not the topic of these Technical Workshops. 
 
The discussions for this series of events will focus on radioactive waste for which no long-term plan currently exists, specifically some low- and all of the intermediate-level waste. Learn more about APM and opportunities or engagement in that process. Find out more about the PHAI.

Preparing for your Session

Information will be provided during the event. However, if you want to learn more before attending a Technical Workshop, here are some helpful resources:

• Learn more about the NWMO, the Engagement, and technical options being investigated or implemented for the disposal of radioactive waste.
• See a report prepared for the NWMO on international experience with the disposal of low- and intermediate-level waste.
• See a Report / Layperson Summary prepared for the NWMO on the technical options for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level waste.

Got Questions?

If you have questions about the Technical Workshops, please contact us.

Frequently asked questions and answers - Technical Workshops

1. Can I attend more than one technical workshop?

   There will be a technical workshop focused on low-level waste and one on intermediate-level waste.  We are making every effort to ensure our technical workshops are accessible to as many Canadians and Indigenous peoples who are interested in participating in the sessions. To ensure that we’re hearing from as many voices as possible, we invite you to register for one event for each topic of interest that works best for you based on your availability. 

2. How do I cancel my attendance?

   If you cannot attend, contact us to cancel your attendance.

3. Will the sessions be recorded?

   No. We will not be recording the sessions, but there will be a notetaker and a summary of all the workshops will be posted on the website.

4. What are the technical (system) requirements to participate?

   Sessions will be held on Zoom. You can join the sessions from a browser or Zoom app on your phone or computer. For the best experience, we recommend you join with a computer enabled with a camera and microphone, so that you can participate in the breakout sessions if you want to share your perspective.

5. Do I have to have my video on during the event?

   No. However, for the best experience, we recommend you join with a computer enabled with a camera and microphone, so that you can participate fully in the breakout sessions and share your perspective.

6. How are you creating a safe space for me to share my views?

   We want to ensure all participants feel comfortable participating and sharing their perspectives. When registering, participants agree to abide by our Community Guidelines. We will have professional moderators who will ensure the dialogue remains civil, and can take action as appropriate. Although we will have notetakers, the sessions are not recorded, and there will not be attribution to individuals making comments, unless they ask to have their comment ‘on the record.’

7. Will you be posting a summary of what was discussed? If so, when?

   Yes. We will produce a summary What We Heard report over the summer, after the technical workshops and roundtable sessions are completed. 

8. How will this information be used?

   The insights we obtain from technical workshops and roundtable sessions will be used as inputs to the development of the Integrated Strategy on Radioactive Waste. Other inputs include public attitude research, insights from the Canadian Radioactive Waste Summit held in March 2021, insights from our Indigenous engagement activities, any written input we receive, as well as insights from community engagement sessions.

9. Are the materials used in the Technical Workshops available online?

   Yes. These will be posted in advance of the technical workshops.