Conservatives Must Bring Transparency to their Nuclear Agenda

OTTAWA - The Conservative government must hold a full public discussion about the consequences of joining the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) and the review of Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL), Liberal Natural Resources Critic Omar Alghabra said today.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that this government would join the GNEP without first holding public consultations", said Mr. Alghabra. "As the largest uranium producer in the world, this initiative could have huge implications for Canada."

Conservative Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn announced yesterday that Canada would join the U.S.-led GNEP, which is controversial because it proposes that uranium exporting countries like Canada would be responsible for the disposal of vast quantities of nuclear waste.

"Canada is already struggling to decide how to safely handle our own nuclear waste, and this Conservative government may have signed us up to become the world's largest nuclear waste dump," said Mr. Alghabra.

In addition to announcing that Canada will be joining the GNEP, Minister Lunn has announced that his government will be conducting a review of AECL that could potentially lead to its privatization.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has already called on the Prime Minister to appoint a blue ribbon panel to give expert advice on the future of AECL, with full public input and discussion.

"This Conservative government must bring transparency to their nuclear agenda by holding full consultations before any further action is taken," said Mr. Alghabra.