https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/a2dc7ba3162987829c8143312710ef67.pdf 2c2c72e14aec8a1338a2d9bc8547cf41 PDF Text Text A& draft letter for the Minister's sj Secretary of State Minister of National Minister of Trade and Comm^l Minister of National Health dear Colleague: As you are aware, we can expect that at any time no*<J anada will receive applications for permission for atomic pow< hips to enter our harbours or other waters. The United States *lready has atomic powered submarines at sea and an atomic poweri erchant ship is under construction. Because of the nature of the hazards associated with nuclear power, it is desirable, in the interests of safety, that such ships should not be permitted entry into Canadian waters except subject to strict conditions. I understand that at present the only legislation that would permit us to deny permission to a vessel to enter our waters is the Atomic Energy Control Act, that gives to the Atomic Energy Control Board the power to prohibit the import or export of property that may be used for the produotion, use or application of atomic energy. As regards warships, I understand it is the practice of foreign countries to request permission through the Department of External Affairs or the Department of National Defence before entering Canadian waters. The Department of Transport, under the provisions of the Canada Shipping Act, is responsible for the Inspection of machinery and hulls of Canadian merchant ships and for the issue of certificates of inspection to such ships when going from any place in Canada. The Act further provides that these requirements may be applied by the Governor in council to any ship registered elsewhere than in Canada, whilst within the territorial waters of Canada. It would be advisable that such application to nuclear powered ships of non-Canadian registry be required once they enter the domestic waters of Canada. It would then fall upon the Steamship Inspection Service of the Department of Transport to issue to any nuclear powered ship operating in the domestic waters of Canada some Tertification with respect to the safety aspect of the nuclear power installation. �in preliminary studies of this problem my officers / ognized that various other departments and agencies of the \ rec Government have responsibilities in the matter and accordingly they arranged a series of informal meetings with interested officers of the Departments of National Defence (RCN), External Affairs, National Health & Welfare, The Atomic Energy Control Board and National Harbours Board. As a result of these discussions it has been recommended as follows:(1) that a committee representative of the above-named departments and agencies be formed; (2) that the proposed committee be known as the Nuclear Vessel uontrol Co-ordinating Committee; (3) that the Department of Transport become responsible for the organization of this committee; (4) that the terms of reference of the committee be as follow (a) to consider applications for the admission of nuclear powered ships to Canadian waters and to make recommendations to the Government with respect to such applications; (b) to act as co-ordinator between various Federal government bodies who have responsibilities with respect to safety attendant upon the visit of a nuclear powered vessel to Canadian waters; (c) to act as co-ordinator between Federal government and appropriate provincial and municipal bodies having an interest in safety with respect to nuclear powered ships; (d) to act as ce-ordinator between Federal government and appropriate provincial or municipal bodies responsible for the public health and safety aspects of any emergency arising out of an uncontrolled release of fission products; (e) in the event of the construction of nuclear ships in Canada, to study the problems associated with safety during construction and trials, and to make recommendations on conditions under which suoh construction and trials might take place. (5) that the Minister of Transport appoint the first Ghairman of the committee from among the officials of his department, and tbat provision be made for the rotation of the chairmanship among other members of the committee, annually, or at greater intervals if considered desirable; (6) that subsequent chairmen be named by the Minister of Transport on the recommendation of a majority vote of the committee; (7) that an official of the Department of Transport be designated as secretary of the committee. 000935 �Document disclosed under the Access to Information Act Document divulgue en vertu de la Loi sur I'acces a I'information I believe that a committee set up along these lines would perform a necessary function and I would appreciate very much your advising me if you are in agreement with the setting up of such a committee. Yours sincerely, George Hees. 000936 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDNW16540 Title A name given to the resource CDNW16540 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Continental defence - Atomic capability," RG25-A-3-b, vol 5930, file 50210-F-40, part 4.2, Library and Archives Canada (LAC).