MP Gallant Disappointed Opposition Puts Party Woes Ahead of Health Concerns in AECL Medical Isotope Dispute

December 14, 2007

Ottawa - Cheryl Gallant, MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, expressed disappointment that the Opposition is using a federal agency and a crown corporation to divert attention from the bad performance of Stephane Dion in the House of Commons.

“Stephane Dion is not a leader. The admission by a former Liberal cabinet Minister that members of his party are being fed questions by the CBC is very disturbing. There is an absolute requirement that the CBC, which is funded by taxpayers’ dollars, be non-partisan. The CBC has a responsibility to report, not manufacture the news. This is a very serious allegation that should be investigated.”

“In the case of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the Liberal appointee, who admitted that AECL would have been ordered to shut down if AECL had not voluntarily done so, took this action with no apparent consideration for the thousands of Canadians and international patients who rely on Canada for medical isotopes,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP.

"I am particularly disappointed by the slurs from the Opposition against the men and women who work at AECL. To even infer that they are not concerned about safety is a slap in the face to their professionalism.”

“After our government took decisive action to allow for the resumption and continuation of the operation of the National Research Universal Reactor at Chalk River, I was approached for comment by Conservative Senator Wilbert Keon, who was responsible to move our legislation through the Senate. I am pleased to reprint my comments as he reported them in the Senate debates:”

Senate Hansard Wednesday, December 12, 2007.

Hon. Wilbert J. Keon moved second reading of Bill C-38, An Act to permit the resumption and continuation of the operation of the National Universal Reactor at Chalk River.

He said: Honourable senators, I rise to speak in support of Bill C-38, which mandates the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, AECL, to restart its National Research Universal, NRU, reactor at Chalk River. In considering this legislation, we have to take into account a certain sense of urgency. In a nutshell, Chalk River's NRU reactor has been shut down since November 18, 2007, leading to delays and cancellations of medical procedures involving medical isotopes in Canada. Not only has this extended shutdown put the health of Canadians at risk, it has also contributed to a shortage of medical isotopes worldwide.

As many of you know, the isotopes in question are particularly important for diagnostic tests and cancer treatment. As a result of this shortage in isotopes, many treatments and tests are either being cancelled or delayed.

Honourable senators, while we all regret that the extended shutdown at Chalk River has led to this serious situation, fortunately we are in a position where we can do something about it.

I raised the matter of safety this morning with the local MP, Cheryl Gallant. She confirmed my own opinion of what goes on at Chalk River. I must tell you that I have a personal interest, since my own country home lies eight kilometres downstream from the Chalk River plant. I am very confident that safety during this 120-day period is not an issue. I have confidence in the people who work at AECL, and I know many of them.

The people who work at Chalk River take pride in what they do. Under no circumstances would they allow any action that would endanger their fellow workers, their community or all Canadians. There are over 2,500 workers currently on site at the Chalk River location. These workers and their families live in the vicinity of the Chalk River site. They include people who have decades of experience. They have made a career in the nuclear industry. It is their life's work. To become an operator takes a minimum of four years of training and involves a mentorship at the reactor location. Much of this is on-the-job training under supervision. To become a senior reactor shift engineer requires an engineering degree, plus four years training with rotation focus on specific aspects of the operations, that is rods, loops and other controls then progressing to work in the control room, alongside an experienced senior reactor shift engineer.

In addition, everyone working in the reactor undertakes refresher training on a regular basis, from three to five years, both during the initial training and through the formal continuing training program, specialized training for components and when procedures and conditions require or when changes are made. Training packages are developed for specific work, which will be updated with new information to reflect the upgrades as they come on line.

There are employees at Chalk River working within the NRU who are now third generation, fathers and sons working together, their grandchildren returning for summer jobs. There is pride in their work. There is tremendous expertise. This is a highly educated and dedicated workforce.

Honourable senators, as we try to balance the safety risk of passage of this bill to the health risk of not passing it, it seems clear to me that we should proceed with its passage.