Federal Government Proposes Changes To Nuclear Liability Legislation

On March 24, 2009, the federal government reintroduced Bill C-20 – Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act to amend and replace Canada's existing nuclear liability regime with respect to nuclear incidents. The most significant change proposed by Bill C-20 is the increase in the maximum liability for operators of nuclear installations for damage resulting from a nuclear incident from $75 million to $650 million (per nuclear installation). This amount would be reviewed every five years by the Minister of Natural Resources and, if appropriate, could be increased by regulation. The federal government has been attempting to modernize Canada's nuclear liability regime for decades, but earlier attempts have either met with constitutional challenge by anti-nuclear activists or died on the Order Paper with the prorogation of Parliament. Bill C-20 would bring Canada's nuclear liability regime more in line with international standards and is consistent with the Harper government's