SAFEGUARDS IN CANADA: Some Reflections on the Past, Present and Future

The fiftieth anniversary of the International Atomic Energy Agency is an appropriate time to examine safeguards implementation in general as well as in specific States. This paper will do so primarily in the context of the Canadian experience. It will briefly examine Canada's past and current experiences in the development and implementation of safeguards in Canada pursuant to the Canada/IAEA safeguards agreement and the additional protocol to that agreement. It will also offer some views on future directions for safeguards implementation in Canada. In addition to discussion of safeguards concepts, approaches and implementation strategies relevant to the Canadian situation, the paper will also address the role played by the Canadian Safeguards Support Program in contributing to safeguards implementation in Canada and more generally.