Michael Ignatieff on An Act to permit the resumption and continuation of the operation of the National Research Universal Reactor at Chalk River

In the House of Commons on December 11th, 2007. See this statement in context.

An Act to permit the resumption and continuation of the operation of the National Research Universal Reactor at Chalk RiverGovernment Orders

December 11th, 2007 / 7:55 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Ignatieff Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Chair, I would ask if the witness could be a little clearer about the safety case requirement. She is saying that they are working together.

The AECL has a potential fix to get this reactor back in service and could “immediately begin to restart the reactor as soon as P-105 is in service and...be at full power in 3 days”. AECL says this in a letter to the Minister of Health and states, “We can operate NRU on an interim basis with P-105” and complete the second pump “within 16 weeks of restarting the reactor”. That is the fix currently being proposed: that AECL can get this reactor back on line very quickly.

What is the holdup? The witness is saying AECL has not submitted a safety case. Could she be more precise about what she requires in order to sign off on the safety side?

See context to find out what was said next.