Nuclear support triples under Tories
Figures provided by Natural Resources Canada show that taxpayers will pour more than $1.2-billion into the Crown corporation during the fiscal year just ending and the one set to begin April 1.
The cash influx comes at a crucial time for AECL, which is in a life-or-death bidding war to build new, next-generation nuclear reactors in Ontario.
The Conservative government is also sitting on a study it commissioned that reportedly recommends privatizing a majority stake in AECL.
Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt says that several policy drivers favour increased federal support for the nuclear industry, including environmental goals, industrial development and value to taxpayers as “shareholders.”
But critics argue Ottawa is putting good money after bad, especially if it plans to sell off the profitable parts of AECL to the private sector.
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What's at stake if Davis-Besse and other nuclear plants close early?
LOS ANGELES - A national nuclear lobby wants to remind people what's at stake for Ohio and Pennsylvania if FirstEnergy Solutions follows through with plans to shut down three nuclear plants over the next three years, including its Davis-Besse nuclear plant east of Toledo.
A report issued Monday by Nuclear Matters largely echoes concerns raised by FES, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., and other supporters of nuclear power about economic and environmental hardships that will likely result from the planned closures.
Along with Davis-Besse, Perry nuclear plant east of Cleveland and the twin-reactor Beaver Valley nuclear complex west of Pittsburgh are slated…
