Blog Post Index: Medical Isotope crisis & Chalk River shutdown

This index contains blog posts relevant to the medical isotope crisis as a result of the ongoing Chalk River reactor shutdown (commencing May, 2009) and the actions of the Harper government and Minister Lisa Raitt in connection to the crisis. It is offered as a centralized, ongoing and hopefully useful research tool for anyone interested in the crisis and its impact on Canada's nuclear medicine (and energy) industry and our health care system. The index will be updated on a regular basis should you wish to bookmark it or link to it:
(Starred posts (*) reference those that readers might want to look to first)

• Oct 21, 2009: Taking their eye off the ball [Missed medical diagnoses the real price of Chalk River shutdown]
• Oct 14, 2009: Time to rethink AECL privatization? [Fed govts own public opinion research shows public vs privatization of AECL]
• Oct 8, 2009: A government that gets it on isotopes [Dutch building new reactor; Cda shutting nuclear isotope prod'n down post-2016]
• Sept 11, 2009: Lisa Raitt speaking today on action & leadership for Canada's nuclear industry [states nothing new, no indications of fed ldrship, reiterates AECL privatization]
• Sept 2, 2009: Letters to the editor on the isotope crisis
• Aug 31, 2009: Ignatieff backs McMaster offer to solve isotope shortage
• Aug 24, 2009: The view from Hamilton: federal failure on isotopes [Hamilton ppr editorial criticizes fed govt for not acting on McMaster's proposed solution]
• Aug 22, 2009: Playing a waiting game?[Conservatives appear to be waiting for U.S. to step in to market before they decide on Cdn approach]
• Aug 21, 2009: Special federal meeting on medical isotopes & Chalk River today
• Aug 19, 2009: Ottawa bungled isotope crisis: Canadian Medical Association head
• Aug 19, 2009: Canadian Medical Association to pressure government on isotopes
• Aug 18, 2009: Ignatieff on isotopes (video)
• Aug 18, 2009: McMaster University offers for the umpteenth time to help produce isotopes*
• Aug 17, 2009: Dutch versus Canadian reaction to isotope shortage
• Aug 16, 2009:Experts-for-the-reconsideration-of-the-Maples-reactors For Dummies™*
• Aug 14, 2009: Reaction begins to news of Chalk River extended shutdown
• Aug 12, 2009: Chalk River re-opening now pushed back to 2010
• Aug 10, 2009: Canada's nuclear-science brain trust hanging in the balance [Implications of non-nuclear options bng considered by Harper expert panel]
• Aug 7, 2009: Summer of silence from Harper government on the isotope shortage [Shortages in Quebec; Que presses for fed $; end of yr time frame for Harper govt panel of experts report criticized]
• Aug 4, 2009: Globe editorial nails the Conservatives on the isotope shortage*
• July 31, 2009: $10 million bill for Quebec hospitals from isotope shortage
• July 30, 2009: More seemingly random news items [27,000 tests delayed in Quebec, MDS Nordion offer on Maples submitted to fed govt]
• July 28, 2009: Teneycke departs [PM spokesperson leaves, high profile cmts abt AECL as $30 billion sinkhole, subsequent Ontario halt to nuclear reactor plans discussed]
• July 28, 2009: AECL comes out in favour of...an AECL decision [AECL engineer downplays Maples viability]
• July 24, 2009: Impact of Chalk River shutdown/isotope shortage in NY Times today
• July 19, 2009: Key recommendations from Health Experts Working Group report of May 2008 ignored [Harper govt inaction in pursuing Cdn backups as recd by W/Grp]
• July 16, 2009: Wanted: one reality-based government* [suppliers hiking prices; attention reverts to Maples reactors as solution]
• July 14, 2009: Isotope crisis impacting the health care system [effects in Ontario; ltrs betw McG & Harper]
• July 11, 2009: Canadians getting what Mr. Harper doesn't * [Ltrs to editor, Cdns spk out re: poss loss of isotope prodn to U.S.; yet Harper speaks of energy leadership]
• July 10, 2009: Today in isotope bungling, the U.S. goes its own way * [U.S. moves to produce its own isotopes, sig damage to Cda's future in nuclear medicine crystallizes]
• July 9, 2009: The buck stops...elsewhere [intl isotope shipment to Cda delayed; Raitt finger pointing at AECL re: longer shutdown anncmt]
• July 8, 2009: Still no leadership on the isotope file [AECL anncmt of longer shutdown; med community reaction; plea re: Maples again]
• July 06, 2009: Lisa Raitt & isotope shortages back in the news [Raitt credibility at issue again; report on July shutdown of Dutch reactor/anticipated impact in Quebec]
• June 23, 2009: Isotope Shortage tracker
• June 20, 2009: Back to the 50's [govt panel apptd re long term solns; more ev on Maples; report re: brain drain]
• June 19, 2009: Citizens concerned about the isotope issue [Ex Mgr at Maples says they cd work, S Korea precedent]
• June 18, 2009: The Economist on Conservative leadership failure on nuclear energy issues *
• June 18, 2009: Minister Raitt: Look here at home for the isotope solution
• June 18, 2009: Pressure on government to reverse Maples reactor decision * [U.S. moving away fr Cdn prodn; video fr CBC National; revisit Maples]
• June 17, 2009: Failing Health Care 101 [L Keen: Maples reactors cd work; Drs critical of lack of planning by fed govt]
• June 16, 2009: Truthiness on isotopes [Harper vs. scientists on avail of isotopes]
• June 14, 2009: Good question [Ltr to editor that goes to heart of this crisis: giving away our energy future]
• June 12, 2009: What if we had a solution to the isotope crisis...and our government ignored it * [Maples reactors cd work acc to expert testimony; expert outrage grows; Teneycke's AECL cmts blunder; implications for Cda of Harp govt policy]
• June 11, 2009: Trying to change the channel [Harper says we're getting out of isotope prod'n]
• June 10, 2009: Drip, drip, drip [L Raitt tape exposed]
• June 10, 2009: Capricious contempt [Raitt tearful "news" conference, no questions taken on isotopes]
• June 10, 2009: Experts skewer the Harper team on the isotope file *
• June 09, 2009: Pushing our limits * [attempt to suppress Raitt tape; public interest in med isotope issue cited by judge; highlights of Raitt tape episode summarized]
• June 08, 2009: Time for Ms. Raitt to resign [Raitt says isotope issue and cancer "sexy"]
• June 08, 2009: Awaiting the Raitt tape publication decision [justice prevails, public rights over private interest]
• June 08, 2009: "It's all bad" [awaiting Raitt tape content]
• June 04, 2009: The more they say serious, somehow I don't think they really are [video of Raitt in H of C, re: loss of her ministerial docs at CTV, aide's resignation]
• June 04, 2009: Things that need some of that "corrective action" [funding of Chalk River hidden in last fed budget]
• June 03, 2009: "Active commercial information" [transcript of report on Min Raitt lost docs containing sensitive comml information re AECL]
• June 03, 2009: The credibility deficit: Lisa Raitt kicks it up a notch [Min Raitt lost docs scandal explodes]
• June 02, 2009: Your credibility deficit is showing again, part II * [cancer patients vent; Maples reactors option]
• May 30, 2009: Your credibility deficit is showing again * [Key post: Dec 2007 few weeks shutdown = life & death; present 2009 shutdown unknown months long, no prob says govt; "lessons learned" panel fr 2007 incident rec'd diversification, action, yet govt did nothing]
• May 29, 2009 Friday notes [brief mention of longer term alternatives to Chalk River]
• May 28, 2009: They're doing their "best" and that's the problem [Harper govt announces sale of AECL]
• May 26, 2009 "The irony is complete" * [L Keen on irony of last shutdown's life & death characterization, present one being minimized; lack of action of Harp govt comes into focus]