Nuclear scientists urge AECL to accelerate restructuring

The Chalk River Employees Task Force for a National Laboratory (CREATE) is urging all stakeholders involved in the restructuring of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) to refocus and complete their work as soon as possible or risk a loss of R&D talent to competing jurisdictions. The group is proposing that the Chalk River Laboratories be designated an international centre for excellence in R&D and innovation in S&T. It is calling for federal approval and funding of a new multi-purpose reactor to serve the R&D needs of the nuclear industry and train highly-skilled personnel. Recent press reports indicate that the Conservative government's plans to sell the CANDU portion of AECL is in serious trouble with at least one of the two remaining bidders (Bruce Power) withdrawing from negotiations and the remaining contender (SNC-Lavalin Group) reconsidering its bid unless the government assumes more financial responsibility for cost overruns.....