Good afternoon, members of the committee and invited guests. Pursuant to the Standing Orders, I wish to inform the committee that the chair is not able to be here. He will be unavoidably absent, and I have been designated to take the chair. It was not a totally popular decision, but it is one that I have taken.
I would like to remind the members that the proceedings are televised today and that we will, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), continue the study of the Atomic Energy Canada Limited facility at Chalk River and the status of the production of medical isotopes.
Members of the committee, you will recall that at our last meeting we agreed we would have two panels today. The first panel will be between 3:30 and 5:00; then from 5:00 to 5:45 we will go into the hearings with respect to panel two.
The witnesses on the first panel are, from the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Jean-Luc Urbain; from the Ontario Association of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Kevin Tracey, vice-president; from MDS Nordion, Mr. Steve West, president; and from the Department of Health, Dr. Alexander McEwan, special advisor on medical isotopes to the Minister of Health. Welcome to you all.
I understand, Dr. McEwan, that you would like to be last on the order of proceedings, and that is fine. Let me remind the witnesses that we try to keep the presentation to a maximum of ten minutes, to be followed by a regular order of questions from the members of the committee.
Without any further ado, we will proceed with Dr. Urbain. Please begin.