Canada has a vast legacy of nuclear waste. It is categorized as either “low and intermediate level” or “high level” waste. Much of this waste will stay radioactive and toxic to humans and the environment for hundreds of thousands of years. High level waste will not decay to background levels, e.g., similar to natural uranium, for a million years. 

Canada lacks a comprehensive nuclear waste framework and guidelines for decommissioning of nuclear facilities.  (See also Casework: Nuclear Waste and Reactor Decommissioning in Manitoba and Saskatchewan)