Parliamentary Secretary Block and Member of Parliament Cheryl Gallant Highlight Investment in Nuclear Science and Technology Infrastructure at Chalk River Laboratories

CHALK RIVER, ON, Jan. 8, 2015 /CNW/ - Parliamentary Secretary Kelly Block, on behalf of the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, and Member of Parliament Cheryl Gallant today announced the completion of a major upgrade in nuclear science and technology capacity at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), a subsidiary of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited.

This investment of $55 million to renovate CNL's Hydrogen Laboratory enables the state-of-the-art facilities to house unique equipment for conducting research and development in hydrogen-based energy production, storage and safety.  

This investment in science and technology infrastructure demonstrates our Government's commitment to the Canadian nuclear sector by providing new opportunities for growth. These actions include promoting trade for nuclear products and services with countries such as China and India, and restructuring Atomic Energy of Canada Limited to bring private-sector rigour and efficiency to its management while creating value.

The Government continues to place the highest priority on safety, security and environmental protection in all aspects of the nuclear sector. This includes the Energy Safety and Security Act, which will substantially increase the absolute liability of nuclear facility operators from $75 million to $1 billion for injury and damage.

Quick Facts

• Canada's nuclear industry accounts for 30,000 high-quality jobs and helps make Canada's electricity supply among the cleanest in the world.
• Nuclear power generates close to 15 percent of Canada's non-emitting electricity, including more than half the electricity supply in Ontario.

Quotes
"Our government's substantial investment in the new Hydrogen Technology Laboratory demonstrates our support for nuclear science by delivering new, cutting edge facilities."

Kelly Block
Parliamentary Secretary to the Honorable Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources and
Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Alexandra Lemieux, Press Secretary, Office of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, 613-996-2007; Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 613-992-4447; The general public may contact:Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT, Telephone: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]

Related Links

www.nrcan.gc.ca