I'm almost finished.
It already has enough highly enriched uranium for two or three atomic bombs. One of the outcomes of that lawsuit is that AECL and MDS Nordion have both promised U.S. authorities that they will work to eliminate the use of HEU as a target material to produce isotopes and convert to non-weapons-usable material instead. This is entirely feasible. For example, Argentina produces all of its molybdenum-99 using low-enriched uranium.
AECL and MDS Nordion have made little progress in this direction. I believe the processing facility that was built in conjunction with the MAPLE reactors is not large enough to accommodate an easy conversion to low-enriched uranium.
To conclude, I believe the CNSC should be reporting to a minister other than the Minister of Natural Resources. I believe AECL should be accountable to Parliament on a regular basis. I believe Parliament should become involved in the question of weapons-usable nuclear materials being used at present or that may be used in the foreseeable future. I also believe Parliament should be involved in the investigation and documentation of the status of the Chalk River site, which is heavily contaminated with radioactive materials of many different kinds, from many different sources, and which constitutes an important undocumented portion of Canada's national debt.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.