Madam Speaker, the concept of using MOX fuel containing a small amount of weapons plutonium for the generation of electricity is attractive because it meets the swords into ploughshares objective and would result in positive non-proliferation and disarmament benefits. The use of MOX fuel in CANDU reactors is a concept under consideration by the United States and Russia and not an immediate project.
If the studies and tests currently underway continue to confirm that the CANDU option is feasible, there would still have to be decisions taken on final disposition options by the United States and Russia. Any proposal involving the use of MOX fuel in CANDU reactors in Canada would be allowed to proceed only if it has the Canadian government's agreement.
Any project proposal involving the use of CANDU reactors in Canada would have to meet all the requirements of strict federal and provincial legislation requirements such as the Atomic Energy Control Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. In other words, any project proposal would have to undergo assessment and licensing approvals by the relevant federal and provincial safety, health and environmental regulatory authorities.
Public consultations would be part and parcel of these reviews. In particular, the CEAA has specific provisions for public input. Canada applauds the destruction of these weapons of mass destruction and has long urged such action. If the use of CANDU reactors can help ensure that weapons plutonium will never again be reassembled into nuclear weapons we should be prepared to give a MOX fuel project involving CANDU reactors in Canada serious consideration.