Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that we have a rare opportunity to talk about nuclear energy, although it is far too brief and without enough time for me to have a speaking slot.
The government over the years, starting with the government of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, began shovelling billions toward the nuclear industry and set up Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Then the government of Stephen Harper sold AECL for a song, at less than $17 million, to SNC-Lavalin. In all that time, there has never been a debate or a vote in the House on whether nuclear energy was a good idea.
The only prime minister who supported such an inquiry was the Right Honourable Joe Clark, and since his government was defeated, we have never had another chance.