Natural Resources committee  That's correct.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I was appointed in June 2006, and I took up my duties in July 2006.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I understand that this seems to be a coincidence, but in fact the nuclear file within--

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I usually follow the transcripts after the fact.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, that's correct.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, I did respond to this question on January 16, so I will just reiterate that I believe everyone on that call conducted themselves in a professional way. The purpose of the call was to canvass Ms. Keen for information on the earliest possible date on which the commission could be convened.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, that is correct. On December 3, I was appointed through GIC.

Natural Resources committee  Let me just check that.... Mr. Chair, I believe it was about a week later. Let me get back to you with the exact date.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, Mr. Chair, that is correct.

Natural Resources committee  I just want to say that I disagree with the premise that there is any connection between the reactor shutdown at Chalk River and my appointment to the board of AECL. I do want to reiterate that on the nuclear front there are other things going on, particularly the restructuring review.

Natural Resources committee  I have spoken to the official who attended the meeting. We have talked to others who were at the meeting as well. There is a sense that there was no reference to any emergency. In fact, on November 22, there was indeed the possibility that the reactor would come on before the end of the month, and that was I think what everyone at that meeting considered to be important.

Natural Resources committee  We certainly have studied the timelines fairly carefully on this. I can tell you that the first time I had a briefing with AECL--where information was presented that this shutdown could extend even as far as into January--was on December 4. So up until November 30, the information we had in the department was that it was temporary and that they were working to try to bring the reactor back on as early as the first days of December.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The communications protocol is between the two departments and AECL as the operator of the NRU reactor. But I would add that the minister has written to the president and chair of CNSC to reinforce the communications protocol and say that if there is any licensing issue or any information the CNSC has at their disposal that would indicate a shutdown on the reactor, the minister's office and the minister himself wish to be advised directly.

Natural Resources committee  The December 5 teleconference was held with the chair and president of CNSC and the minister. I was in attendance, as were a couple of other officials from the department, and I believe there were officials from CNSC. So it was a formal call. The purpose was really to obtain information from CNSC as part of our strategy on what actions were available to resolve the situation.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, that is correct.