The Conservatives have gotten a lot of mileage out of using the term 'global' as it relates to the recession. Not that saying it in that context isn't true. It is of course, but they have been quite adept at hiding their own deficiencies behind that term.Well, MP Rick Dykstra, this morning on QP, seemed to be previewing that term in another context. Chalk River or more specifically, the potential catastrophe concerning the lack of isotope production.
There was a panel discussion with Jane Taber and David McGuinty, Thomas Mulcair and Rick Dykstra. While Mulcair focused on the Minister, McGuinty wisely focused on the real issue and that is the shut down and the complete mismanagement of this file by the Conservatives. This is when Dykstra popped up with what I'm betting is their new strategy on this file and hey, who knows how many others?
What's happening at Chalk River is a global issue apparently. The fact that the government is being sued 1.6B by MDS Nordion, or the fact that we are down to 10% of our supply needed in Ontario, or that 3 unscheduled shut downs have occurred, or that there have been 4 radio active leaks, that's somehow a global issue?
Now to be clear, this shut down is affecting the globe in terms of us not being able to supply isotopes, but that is not how the term is being used by either Dykstra or Raitt. They throw it around as if every other reactor in the world is going through the same thing and there is nothing we can do. It somehow seems to be lost on them what our role in global terms is here. Isotopes are used in over 30 million medical procedures every year, and the NRU at Chalk River is the main supplier at about 40%.
Raitt keeps throwing around numbers suggesting that the rest of the world is going to make up our shortfall. That's just not the case. The reactor in the Netherlands is often cited by Raitt (and by Dykstra today), who says that they are increasing their production by 50%. Sounds impressive doesn't it? Trouble is, they only produce 30% of what's required, so an additional 15% certainly isn't going to cover our shortfall. The Dutch reactor is scheduled to shut down in July for 4 weeks and then for 6 months beginning in January. If those pesky facts are brought up, the government cites Australia. Sadly, Australia only produces for national consumption and does no exporting whatsoever. What? Do the Conservatives think that no one will check the garbage they spew?
Anyway, watch for the new buzz word designed to take responsibility off of their shoulders. 'Global Issue or Crisis'. It's remarkable that after 3 years in power, they still need to find someone else to blame for their mismanagement.
34 comments:
They've had "18" months to deal with this.
I wonder if any legal suits will come if people can't get tested and perhaps even die because of it?
Where does he get the ability, or more accurately to BS?
Dykstra worked for the Ontario provincial government from 1998 to 2002, during Mike Harris's administration, and served in two Ministries and in the Office of the Premier. He worked at Management Board as a senior policy advisor, served as "chief of staff to Minister of Community and Social Services John Baird", and was director of caucus and public relations.
Baird trained him well.
Chretien/Martin had thirteen years to do something and did nothing, nice try.
See! Silly anon and his/her ilk still don't seem to understand that they are in government now and have been for 3 years.
It's time to grow up children and start acting like government and not like 5 year olds that point their finger every time you encounter a problem.
I think it's somewhat unfair to blame the entire mess on Raitt, although her incompetence (before, when she was with the THA, and now) is quite remarkable.
I think the screwups at AECL can and should be blamed on its management, such as it is.
I'm not blaming the entire mess on her, though as the Minister in charge, she shoulders the blame.
Lunn was useless on this file and since the fiasco 18 months ago, it would seem to me that the focus has been on changing the structure and potentially selling off parts of AECL, rather than dealing with the issues at hand.
Ah, why do you think Linda Keen was fired 18 months ago - because she knew there were problems and it interfered with Harper's plan to privatize - that's how I see it.
3-1/2 years and the kiddies in Harper's camp are still blaming everyone else - it's the Liberals' fault, it's a staffer's fault, it's Elections Canada's fault, yadda, yadda. A leader takes responsibility for his problems, especially after this length of time. This Johnnie hit me first stuff is so grammar school.
Yah, the Government cancelled a Chretien agreement, because MDS is 8 years late and $200 million plus over budget.
and MDS is suing...what a joke.
'MDS had entered into an agreement with AECL in 1996 for the design, development and construction of the two new reactors,
originally intended to be completed in 2000 at a cost to MDS of $145 million.
By 2006, the project was still not finished and costs had more than doubled, with MDS's investment exceeding C$350 million. '
"MAPLES 1 and 2 over 12 years, and hundreds of millions of dollars, never produced a single medical isotope." Raitt
Interesting side note: Lisa Raitt now has no Chief of Staff or Director of Communications. This must be a new record - a Minister of the Crown without two of the seniormost aides.
Wilson is correct about the MDS contract and the two Maples, this is another Liberal (Chretien/Martin) mess that has been left to the current government to clean up.
I understand that Van Loan is losing his Chief of staff too.
Actually, I heard someone in the press say that this government is having a tough time holding on to staff.
Can't imagine why?
Liberal moles fall into holes, never to be seen again.
Geebus, do we ever need daycare in this country. Unsupervised kiddies are playing with computers again.
Do you mean national daycare or Liberal Brainwashing Indoctrination Camps?
That Alberta firewall idea is sounding better and better everyday.
Sadly this nitwit is from Surrey
"Ignatieff warns trade war over Buy American policy would hurt Canada and U.S."
Iggy has just figured this out and PM Harper and the Conservatives were on this back in January.
There's your nitwit KNB, I'm sure glad that you're being a good little Liberal, you must be so proud of your undemocratic parties installation of this empty suit.
"That Alberta firewall idea is sounding better and better everyday."
I do not want to be in a prison!
We'll take care of you Gayle.
Go away anon. You're adding nothing.
You and Gayle take care of each other, Leftist Mental Disorder is such a terrible affliction.
"That server is in jolly old England."
That's false. Check arin.net.
KNB, The Con trolls have been out in full force the past few days. Wonder what's scaring them?
EU elections 2009;
support for centre-Left parties fell across the EU, with non-socialist fringe parties picking up protest votes and many centre-Right governments weathering the storm.
The polls, penlan, the polls. They know they are being exposed and the electorate is fed up.
The next comment speaks about Europe, but guess what's happening in NS? Right here at home.
Pathetic and frightened is how they strike me now.
KNB, those polls mean nothing, they are pablum.
And I hope for Nova Scotia's sake they don't get an NDP government.
What do you think about your anointed
leader being more interested in flogging his books than in helping to rebuild your party?
Hey, Anon - we're not EU. First sign of Cons trolls sweating with fear - anon negative remarks and scared to even show their name.
LOL - what a bunch of idiots. And, Wilson, spends all his/her time reading over PM approved talking points and saving negative "old history" to try to make points. Get a life.
It's not like we can't go back and get negatives on Harper/Mulroney.
"And I hope for Nova Scotia's sake they don't get an NDP government"
Please. Unlike far too many regions of this country Nova Scotians have moved far beyond the extremely tired canard of the "scary socialist". For far too many years we've been the victims of failed Tory industrial development schemes that have saddled us with a $12-billion-plus debt. This incompetence has eroded our ability to do the things governments need to do. The scary NDP? What we've had for 30 years has been the nightmare. Vive la Nova Scotia! Vive la différence!
Why'd you delete your "How to skirt the rules post?" Did you realize your commentary probably went over the "Going to get me into legal trouble" line?
Google cache means you can't run away from your mistakes.
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:6w_B5GH0EF8J:liberal-arts-and-minds.blogspot.com/+liberal+arts+and+minds+imagine+my+surprise&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca
I didn't delete it Mark, and I have no fear of having gone over the line simply by quoting an article.
I can still see the post, but it's weird you say that. Someone e-mailed me this morning to say that this post had disappeared?
I upgraded some programs on my computer yesterday and wonky things have been happening ever since.
Let me know pls if you can see it now. Are you using the aggregator or going directly to the blog?
For some reason your new post is not showing up for me either. I can access it through the link Mark provided, but not through any other portal.
Yes, "How to Skirt the Rules" post HAS disappeared & all the comments for it have been moved to the "Global Issues" post.
Okay, I just tried republishing it.
Let me know.
I see it now.
Thanks for letting me know it's up again.
I find it highly amusing, not to mention ironic, that Mark jumped to the conclusion he did. Amusing because it seems to be a kneejerk conservative reaction to impose libel chill lol
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