Yes, I'll be splitting my time with Mr. Harris. If the minister can keep the answers short, both Mr. Harris and I can get our questions in.
I have a few questions on the nuclear issue. I'm very much supportive of the whole nuclear industry, and so forth, but I like things to not be subsidized by the government.
One of the complaints we've had from outside is that AECL is always subsidized and has been subsidized for many years. In looking through some of the estimates here, the commercial business activity is self-sustaining, but government provides spending for some of the R and D facilities and operations. Could you explain it a little and put it on the record?
Essentially, what I'm looking for is this. What would be the subsidy to AECL? What is it really, when they are fulfilling non-commercial aspects for the government, for basic R and D safety issues that would need to be done even if AECL was privatized, closed, or commercial? I'm trying to get at the bottom line number we would still be spending if AECL's commercial units were privatized or something else was done by the government.
After that, do you have any more comments about things the government is doing on the nuclear file that's promoting it? I know there are large provincial areas of jurisdiction, but more general comments on the nuclear industry would be appreciated, as far as your vision for that industry.