The safety standards authority — in the Canadian case the Nuclear Safety Commission — carries the authority delegated from the government (and ultimately from the people) to administer the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (CNSC, 2000). This Act grants very broad powers to make regulations for the administration of the Act. Up until recently, the CNSC chose to write only general regulations; specific regulatory requirements were applied through the licensing process — and so were largely determined by the regu­latory staff.

In general, the role of the tribunal is to determine the rules under which radioactive materials and processes must be managed in Canada. With regard to any activity involving ionizing radiation, they sanction the game; that is, they permit the activity to proceed provided that the rules are followed. Their ultimate power is to stop the activity if the rules are violated.