Yes, they are opposed to this.
If Ontario Hydro had used coal fired generating plants to produce the same amount of electricity as has been made by its nuclear plants to date, it would have released 9.9 million tonnes of acid gas into the atmosphere and produced 23.3 million tonnes of ashes.
All of the used fuel from Canada's nuclear plants would fit into one olympic size swimming pool. The coal ashes would require about 25,000 times as much space if coal had been used.
What is more, the nuclear fuel still has the potential for recycling to produce much more energy. A single uranium fuel bundle of about 10 centimetres in diameter and 50 centimetres long and weighing 25 kilograms produces as much electricity as 380 tonnes of coal or 1,800 barrels of oil. But the NDP wants to do away with this.
A large nuclear power reactor uses 150 tonnes of natural uranium per year, equivalent to two million tonnes of black coal or 10 million barrels of oil. Is that what the NDP stands for?
Since 1973 nuclear power plants worldwide have cut fossil fuels used to generate electricity by 17.6 billion barrels of oil worth $470 billion U.S., 2.2 billion tonnes of coal, 26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. This is not a bad saving. It is not bad for conservation.
For medical applications almost every facet of modern medicine relies in some way on nuclear technology, from nuclear powered units in heart pacemakers to the sutures, surgical gloves and medical supplies that are sterilized by radiation and used in hospitals each day.
Millions of diagnostic procedures are carried out annually using nuclear technology. Cancer treatment systems using nuclear technology are used to save thousands of lives throughout the world. More than 1,300 of the world's cobalt therapy machines have been supplied by Canada. This figure represents close to 50 per cent of the total cobalt 60 therapy machines used to date.
Every year in 70 countries an estimated one-half million people are treated for cancer using cobalt therapy machines designed and built in Canada. Canada is a world leader in the production of cobalt 60. The country supplies more than 80 per cent of the world's total cobalt 60 used in medical and industrial applications. AECL was instrumental in the development of the cobalt 60 treatment for cancer.
Cobalt 60 is a human-made radioisotope produced using a nuclear reactor. Radioisotopes are used to help diagnose medical ailments and prescribe remedies. Such isotopes can detect how well organs are functioning, how well the body absorbs particular substances, and where tumours might be located. They have a range of valuable uses.
The hon. member has told this House of Commons and all Canadians that AECL is a waste of money. Are all these facts a waste of money? The hon. member should take a second look and do his homework.
I will end my comments here. I have much more I would like to say to educate the hon. member, but I will pay due respect to the Chair. My time is up.