MP Gallant Questions Former CNSC President

January 29, 2008

Ottawa, Ontario - Cheryl Gallant, MP, (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) expressed disappointment that more time was not available to question the former President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

“From her opening statement, the former President made contradictory remarks regarding what she knew and when she knew it. The CNSC have had three safety inspectors on site at AECL since May of 2006 when they opened an office. It is inconceivable that CNSC safety inspectors would not have informed their bosses if they thought the NRU was not being operated safely,” remarked Cheryl Gallant, MP.

“The other part of the former CNSC President’s statement that was wrong is when she spoke of possible harm to the public. The fact of the matter is the NRU is a low power reactor that operates at much lower pressure than a reactor that is used to generate electricity. It has always had back up systems. Exaggerating a possible risk only reduces the former CNSC Presidents credibility to lower than what it is. The question was still not answered that if the CNSC felt there was a risk to public safety, why did they renew AECLs licence to operate in 2006?”

“What was further troubling in her testimony was the callous disregard for the health of Canadians who would be denied access to medical procedures if there was a stop in the supply of medical isotopes. The health committee that had been established to advise the CNSC on health issues was disbanded in 2002. Her attempt to give a legalistic, bureaucratic response failed,” said MP Gallant.

“Based on the answer I received from Auditor General Sheila Fraser in committee today, it would appear that the policy of the previous government to ignore AECL has resulted in the situation AECL and the CNSC find themselves in today. The lack of approval by Parliament of a corporate plan for AECL was identified by the Auditor General in report after report all through the 1990s. Any agency, board or commission that is created by Parliament must be accountable to the taxpayers of Canada. Taxpayers provide millions of dollars to hire expert staff. If the Commission is not going to listen to the advice of its own expert staff, why should taxpayers hand over millions of dollars to the CNSC?” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.

As the Member of Parliament for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, Cheryl Gallant has the Chalk River Laboratories of AECL in her Riding. She has taken a place on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources to represent the over 2500 employees who are currently working at that location, the residents in nearby communities and to represent the tens of thousands of Canadians who rely on nuclear medicine to maintain their health.