Media Centre Press Releases: For Immediate Release December 19, 2007 Former AECL Chair Confirms Lunn's Mismanagement of Isotope Controversy OTTAWA-Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn must come out of hiding and explain why he put the lives of Canadians at risk for nearly two weeks before he said he was made aware of a medical isotope crisis at the Chalk River nuclear facility, Liberal Natural Resources Critic Omar Alghabra said today. "I was not surprised to learn today that former Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) Chairman Michael Burns said he briefed Mr. Lunn on November 22 about the situation in Chalk River and that subsequent updates were given to the Minister," Mr. Alghabra said. "These comments confirm that this government was aware of the impending health crisis caused by the extended shutdown of this medical isotope-producing facility and sat on its hands and did nothing." Mr. Burns further exposed the mismanagement of Canada's isotope-producing nuclear reactor on Tuesday, claiming that both he and Mr. Lunn were informed as early November 22 that the reactor would not resume service and received regular updates on its status in the days that followed. However, during a debate December 11 regarding the emergency legislation to restart the Chalk River reactor, Mr. Lunn told the House of Commons: "I was first made aware [of the shutdown] I believe late in the day on December 3 and started working on it on December 4." Health Minister Tony Clement has claimed that he was not informed about the shutdown until December 5. If Mr. Clement's account is accurate, Mr. Alghabra also wondered why Mr. Lunn waited to tell the Health Minister of the looming public health crisis caused by the growing shortage of medical isotopes until 18 days after the reactor was shut down. "This government has clearly dropped the ball on this issue and put the lives of thousands at risk," said Mr. Alghabra. "To make matters worse, instead of admitting responsibility for their failures, they chose to scapegoat federal officials." Mr. Burns, a long-time Conservative party fundraiser, defended the work of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) President Linda Keen, against Prime Minister Stephen Harper's accusations that her actions were guided by Liberal partisan leanings. Mr. Burns himself has fallen victim to Conservative finger pointing, linking his resignation as Chair of the AECL on November 29 to the Chalk River controversy.