Canada Produces Medical Isotopes, U.S. Companies Profit

Today’s news about another averted medical isotope crisis is a very telling example of how privatization could lead Canada down a perilous path, not only financially but in terms of its citizens health. I have blog in details about the whole medical isotope fiasco during the past crisis (see bottom for list of past blogs).

It was a crisis years in the making due to past Conservative and Liberal government’s negligence and inactions. In the case of the former, it was either a totally incompetent or consciously corrupt decision to gave away profit and distribution of our medical isotope to U.S. private companies. This happened under Brian Mulroney’s government and with their approval and prodding. In summary, under Brian Mulroney’s government, profit from the lucrative medical isotopes, produced by Canada, was awarded to U.S. companies in what is probably the most lopsided deal in a developed country. In effect, Canada who produces these medical isotopes does not get to distribute nor profit from it. So why did Mulroney government agree to such a terrible deal? It’s either utter incompetence or callous corruption to help private companies profit at Canada’s expense.

So not only was a revenue sources lost from this malpractice, but now cancer patient are in peril as Canadian don’t get first dip whenever there’s a worldwide shortage of these medical isotopes.

So keep that in mind the next time you decide to keep quiet while the government sell off our research and utilities assets to private companies.

The making of the crisis (links to past blogs):

Buck Does Not Stop with AECL

CNSC Linda Keen Firing, Gary Lunn Before the Committee

Harper Fired CNSC Linda Keen