Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to introduce to you Mr. Bill Pilkington, Chief Nuclear Officer for AECL.
Bill will be taking us through a presentation regarding the NRU at Chalk River and the manner in which AECL intends to identify and then implement a solution for the safe return to service of that reactor.
Since our time is limited, let me just say that AECL and its people will approach the current situation at Chalk River with attention to several principles that will guide our actions.
First and foremost, we will never operate an unsafe reactor. This is our highest commitment to our employees, our communities, and all Canadians.
Second, we view the production of medical isotopes as part of our core mission for Canada, and indeed for the world. As such, we have a duty to resume production as soon as it is safe and practical to do so. We will return the NRU to service as soon as possible, with lasting repairs and every assurance of safe operation. In returning the reactor to service, we will draw on all available expertise, both internal and external, so that we apply the best minds to this issue. We will work seven days a week, 24 hours a day, where practical, until we finish the job. A professional project management approach will, as always, guide our actions.
We will act in lockstep with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, our regulator, with which we continue to have an extremely constructive relationship.
Finally, we will conduct ourselves with the utmost transparency before Canadians, the medical community, our shareholder, and indeed, as requested, this committee and Parliament. Ladies and gentlemen, to that last point, let me extend an invitation to members of the committee to visit Chalk River to see for yourselves the work that is under way.
Thank you, and I would like to now turn it over to Mr. Pilkington.