Posted on 18 November 2010
Ottawa, November 18th, 2010 – Senator Céline Hervieux-Payette tabled a Bill in the Senate to save Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. Her Bill titled: An Act concerning the reorganization and privatization of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and providing for other measures relating to nuclear energy.
“Today, I have provided a platform that proposes solutions that will enable AECL to be ready for the incoming nuclear renaissance,” said Senator Hervieux-Payette.
Having realized the indifference of the conservative government towards strategic economic sectors in Canada and their emphasis on short term political and financial gains, Senator Hervieux-Payette decided to follow up on the recommendations made by the Nuclear Industry during the hearings on AECL this summer at the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance.
“The conservatives never learnt from their mistakes, they want to create another Avro Arrow with AECL,” she added.
Under this Bill, 30% of AECL would be sold off to the private sector while the federal government would maintain control of 70 % of the corporation. “AECL is a vanguard and profitable company, it is part of our heritage and we must take action now to ensure that it remains at the service of Canadians for generations to come,” concluded Senator Hervieux-Payette.
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Paul Lussier
Legislative Assistant
Office of the Honourable Céline Hervieux-Payette, PC
613-947-8008 – lussip@sen.parl.gc.ca