Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think we have to recognize that the government that was responsible for the 10 years prior to the shutdown bears some responsibility here too.
It seems that your department is working towards a future where security of Canada's supply of medical isotopes is built on a more effective international coordination of isotope-producing reactors. I'm going to ask you a series of questions, so please time your answers accordingly.
Is this the most desirable scenario, as opposed to a stand-alone, Canada-only system for a secure supply? Does the department foresee Canada being a significant contributor to this international network of isotope-producing nations in the long term? Will Canada's contribution to a network of reactor sources be a reactor that is fully integrated with other countries? It seems that we're pausing to consider the merits of many other approaches, while getting started on a replacement for the NRU reactor is delayed for another one or two years. Is this period of discussion really worth the risk of any further delay in replacing the NRU?