Discussions

I was watching a finance meeting or something the other day about a bill giving the finance minister the authority to out and out sell our Crown nuclear industry AECL (Atomic energy of Canada limited). Before the program I was of the opinion that it was not worth saving.  
 
I thought that it was poorly run, extremely expensive and I hate the idea of having nuclear waste lying around. Also the industry requires a astronomically huge investment to build new now (although it is expected that this will pay off).  
 
After watching for awhile there were some good points made. For example:  
 
1. The nuclear industry is a high tech field in a booming industry and Canada is at the top of the list for expertise.  
 
2. We have 2 out dated reactors capable of each making at least 100% of the worlds isotopes(there has been a shortage lately) and if it were a private industry we may be short changed for this necessary health care product.  
 
3. If privatized we would likely lose the best/most high tech parts of the field to another country.  
 
4. The research done at Chalk River for example has been fruitful producing one nobel prize in physics.  
 
5. Although the very old reactors in Canada have been notoriously overdue and over budget. AECL has successfully built reactors on time and on budget in other countries for years now.  
 
6. Nuclear Energy will likely be a part of our commitment to the Kyoto protocol and de-crowning it will give us less control over meeting those requirements.  
 
7. How will Chalk river be affected in all of this? There needs to be research funding for research sake rather than profit. Chalk river is also dependent on access to reactors so how will that work?  
 
I am sure there are many more points both ways in this argument. Please weigh in with your thoughts and opinions on the subject.