OTTAWA -The Conservative government’s failure to protect the future supply of medically-necessary isotopes in Canada could now cost Canadian taxpayers almost $2 billion in legal bills, Liberal Critics Omar Alghabra and Robert Thibault said today.

”Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn was warned months ago that cancelling the Maple nuclear reactor project without offering a concrete alternative would have serious health and financial implications for the Government of Canada.” said Mr. Alghabra, who is the Liberal Natural Resources critic. “Yet the decision was made unilaterally, without consultation with the government’s partner, MDS Nordion. Now the taxpayers of Canada could be on the hook for $1.6 billion to cover up Mr. Lunn’s incompetence.”

MDS Nordion announced today that it is suing the Crown Corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL), as well as the federal government, for $1.6 billion over its decision not to bring new reactors on stream to produce the medical isotopes that MDS sells. The lawsuit claims damages against AECL for negligence and breach of contract, and against the federal government for inducing breach of contract and “interference with economic relations.”

Liberal Health Critic Robert Thibault also noted that the government’s action also has serious consequences for health care. AECL’s National Research Universal (NRU) reactor was brought on-line in 1958, and has an operating licence valid only until October 2011. AECL has said it plans to keep the reactor open beyond that date.

“The Conservatives have absolutely no plan to secure the long term supply of medically-necessary isotopes,” said Mr. Thibault. “Their solution to this problem is to try to squeeze a few more years’ life out of a fifty-year-old nuclear reactor.”

“When the government fired Linda Keen as president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, it used the excuse of needing to ensure the continuing supply of medical isotopes,” said Mr. Alghabra. “Now that the government’s own decision has put the supply of medical isotopes at risk, isn’t it Mr. Lunn’s turn to be fired?”

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