Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada plans to end its involvement in the production of medical isotopes, leaving the manufacturing to other countries.
The Calgary Herald reported Harper's comments as Canadian and U.S. nuclear scientists and medical isotope providers lobby the Canadian government to reconsider a backup plan for Atomic Energy of Canada's (AECL) aging and currently offline nuclear reactor in Chalk River, Ontario.
AECL built two backup reactors, which were scheduled to come online nine years ago. Canadian nuclear regulators, however, have been concerned about how the reactors would operate under certain conditions, according to the report.
Executives from MDS Nordion of Ottawa were scheduled to testify this week at a House of Commons committee hearing that medical isotopes were made by those reactors in early testing.
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MDS advocates Maple reactor activation, June 1, 2009
AECL reactor down 'at least three months,' May 29, 2009
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