Posted on 22 November 2010
OTTAWA – Today, Senator Pierrette Ringuette once again raised concerns over the government’s sale of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL).
Recently, Federal Resources Minister Christian Paradis has stated his desire to sell AECL “sooner rather than later” and that “everything is on the table” despite previous assurances that the intention was only to sell the reactor construction division of AECL.
In light of recent events, Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette has recently tabled a bill, S-225, that proposes to sell only 30% of AECL with the Canadian people maintaining the controlling interest in the profitable company. This will allow for an injection of private capital which will help AECL compete in the growing worldwide nuclear industry.
Senator Ringuette has released the following statement:
“I have previously raised my issues with the sale during the unprecedented budget omnibus bill C-9 and none of my concerns have been dissuaded. The attitude of this government towards a Canadian institution such as AECL is appalling. They are only concerned with a few short-term gains that will cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, hurt the economy, threaten the stability of Canada’s power generating and medical isotope producing capabilities, and lose Canadian developed technology forever.
The government does not consider the serious implication of this sale. Instead they are just trying to off-load it quickly on purely ideological grounds and to superficially make their deficit look better.
The survival of AECL is crucial to Canadians; whether for its medical isotope production for millions of Canadians, or its nuclear energy production which supplies half of Ontario’s electricity.
The Harper Government has no energy strategy and the sale of ACL is a clear indication that they do not know how to secure the energy needs of Canadians.
This is why I urge all Parliamentarians to support Senator Hervieux-Payette’s proposal to help grow Canada’s nuclear industry while keeping its future in the hands of the Canadian people.”
For Additional Information:
Tim Rosenburgh
Office of Senator Pierrette Ringuette
(613) 943-3645