The question is also very relevant.
Since the situation began a year ago, hospitals have learned to live with the 30% shortage created by the shutdown of the NRU. Clearly, this has generated increased stress for staff and doctors, because operating hours vary widely. In the past year it was possible to practise very good medicine and to take good care of patients. The current problem relates to the Dutch reactor's breakdown, which has added an additional 30% shortage, which really hurts. The delicate balance that we had achieved at 70% of operating capacity has dropped to less than 30%. This is a major problem.
With regard to the NRU's repair, clearly, the fact that its repair is being done at the same time as that of the Petten reactor means that the situation remains problematic. At present, things are even worse, since maintenace work is being done on other nuclear reactors during the week. This has worsened the crisis for us. In reality, as long as there is a shortage at the two major reactors, the situation will remain extremely precarious with regard to our exams.
As for announcements about the progress in repairs to the NRU reactor, honestly, in medical circles, it has almost become a joke to get an AECL report talking about 30%, 35% or 40%. Medically speaking, this is irrelevant. We only want the reactor to become operational again. The repeated postponements that have been announced since January have meant that we no longer take AECL seriously.
We continue to hope that the reactor will resume operations by fall. It is likely more realistic to think that it will happen in the fall rather than in the spring.