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Canadian nuclear reactor to reopen, prime minister hints at firings

Written by Editorial Staff   
Thu, Dec 13 2007

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Source: Financial Times
  
The Canadian government passed legislation that will reopen an Ontario nuclear reactor that produces most of the world's supply of critical medical isotopes, even though the site was shut down for safety maintenance. In a formal address, Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that “all sides will have to answer for the wake of the reactor shutdown that deprived health facilities across Canada and around the world of medical isotopes vital for diagnostic testing.”

On Tuesday, the House of Commons passed the legislation after hearing from witnesses and experts were called to testify in the House about safety concerns. The bill quickly passed through the Senate on Wednesday. Pressure on the government to restart operations began to build after delays in the shutdown of the government-run site, which generates two-thirds of the world's radioisotopes, began to cause a critical shortage of radioisotopes.

The current bill effectively suspends the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s oversight role of the reactor for 120 days, allowing the facility to immediately resume production of isotopes.

Harper accused the Liberal party of blocking the production of medical isotopes, suggesting the opposition has jeopardized the health and safety of tens of thousands of Canadians through its political appointees to the federal nuclear regulator.

The Toronto Star reported that Harper said that “it is ridiculous that the government can only resolve an escalating dispute between these two agencies by actually coming to Parliament and passing a law." 

The Toronto Star also reported that “in a comment that signalled personnel changes could be coming, Harper vowed there would be a full review when the dust settles.”

"I can certainly assure the House that when this is all behind us the government will carefully examine the role of all actors in this incident and make sure that accountability is appropriately restored," he said, as reported in the Toronto Star.
Last Updated ( Thu, Dec 13 2007 )