I would like to comment on that because I think there are perhaps some misconceptions out there around science and technology in nuclear in Canada because of the restructuring of AECL.
I assure you that from my perspective within AECL there has never been a better opportunity than right now for nuclear science and technology to continue to flourish and play the same very significant role as it ever has, both from an innovation perspective and from a jobs and economy perspective.
We've heard much around this table today about the role of AECL, and frankly many other research organizations across this country in academia and industry, in creating the foundations for what is today a domestic nuclear industry that contributes about $6 billion to the economy and has a significant export opportunity. The reason this happened was that back in the very early days the Government of Canada made a very strong commitment to pursuing all the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
At this point we see we're at a turning point in the nuclear industry. There is renewed interest in nuclear, particularly as a clean technology, but also in new energy technologies that can serve other socio-economic needs, including energy for remote communities, energy for indigenous communities, energy to support other natural resource industries, including very large industries in this country, across this country, in Alberta, in northern Ontario, and elsewhere. We have a particular interest in Canada but that interest is shared by many other countries around the world. There's a growing attention on this.
In Canada, recently—