Ottawa -- A report released today by the Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout reveals subsidies to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) totaling $17.5 billion. The study marks the 50th anniversary of AECL, a federal crown corporation that designs and markets CANDU reactors. Last year, the federal government gave the largest subsidy in 15 years to AECL ($211.2 million), betraying a 1996 budget commitment to cap the annual subsidy at $100 million.

With no public debate, Cabinet gave AECL over $200 million to design a new reactor prototype called the Advanced CANDU Reactor -- like other AECL fiascos, a failure in the making. AECL also wants $500 million for another unneeded nuclear mega-project, the Canadian Neutron Facility reactor. AECL also seeks federal support for refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear plant in New Brunswick -- a project condemned by the provincial regulator as too risky and too expensive. The Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Economic Union is reviewing AECL subsidies behind closed doors for the upcoming federal budget.

“Given AECL’s fifty-year track record of screw-ups and financial failure, it’s safe to assume that the pattern won’t change. It’s time to pull the plug on nuclear subsidies.” said David H. Martin, author of Canadian Nuclear Subsidies: Fifty Years of Futile Funding.

“Prime Minister Chrétien has been called the ‘CANDU man’ for good reason. The restoration of nuclear subsidies is his nasty legacy for Canadian taxpayers. We need a public debate about the public funding of nuclear power.” said Shawn-Patrick Stensil, Coordinator of the Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout.

“Nuclear power is out of step with Canada’s Kyoto commitment. Green energy is cheaper, cleaner and safer.” stated Elizabeth May, Executive Director of the Sierra Club of Canada.

For further information please contact:
David Martin, author of Canadian Nuclear Subsidies, Sierra Club of Canada, 905-852-0571
Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout, 613-789-3634
Sierra Club of Canada, 613-241-4611

Canadian Nuclear Subsidies: Fifty Years of Futile Funding (60 pages) is available in full in PDF format at www.cnp.ca. An executive summary is also available.