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The article focuses on the controversy regarding the nuclear reactor in Chalk River in Ontario, Canada, which produces the raw materials for medical isotopes. It notes that the controversy has become an international embarrassment for Canada while some European isotope producers has refused to participate in the efforts to coordinate with the international isotope supply. On the other hand, it also reveals that the conflict between the U.S. and the company MDS Nordion is prompting calls for the creation of a domestic supplier which would get the company of its greatest customer. INSET: Securing Canada's isotope supply.

The article discusses the supply chain of Canadian medical isotope. It informs that the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario has been the target of antinuclear activists for using highlyenriched uranium (HEU) in civilian installations. It highlights that Canada will be forced to obtain molybdenum from alternative sources if NRU reactor is not converted before the American sources stop delivering highly enriched uranium fuel.

The article reports that Canada will move in the opposite direction of the approach on isotope production through MDS Nordion and Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL). According to Alan J. Kuperman, director of the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Program at the University of Texas, the 4 general recommendations are a rejection across-the-board of the Nordion/AECL approach. An overview of the recommendations on solving the problem is presented.

The article reports on the concerns about a shortage of medical isotope supply in Canada due to decision of the National Research Universal (NRU) nuclear research reactor in Chalk River, Ontario to stop production in October 2016. Particular focus is given to the statement of Andrew Ross, president of the nuclear medicine organization Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine, on the lack of transparency on the stability of isotope supply.

The article focuses on the call of MDS Nordion, the Canadian life sciences company, for the federal government to determine that it would fix 2 nuclear reactors that can produce medical isotopes in Canada. It cites that MDS Nordion hired Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) for the design and building of 2 nuclear reactors. It also offers insights on the Multipurpose Applied Physics Lattice Experiment (MAPLE) project of MDS Nordion which was cancelled due to technical issues.

Two letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles in previous issues including one on the medical isotope production and another one on the nuclear terrorism in Canada.

The article reports on the difficulties being faced by the Canada's Multipurpose Applied Physics Lattice Experiment (MAPPLE) reactors dedicated to the production of medical isotopes. The MAPPLE is capable of supplying Canada with medical isotopes used for diagnostics and the destruction of tumours through gamma rays or drugs, yet its operation is still unclear due to some problems in terms of finances. The MAPPLE has been vested with the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) but the government moved to private it in the late 1980s and bought in 1991 in the form of MDS Health Group Inc. for $165 million. Moreover, renegotiation between MDS Nordion and AECL took place in 2005 and agreed on the transfer of ownership of the Dedicated Isotope Facility to AECL in exchange for $68 million.

The article focuses on the condition of medical isotope in Canada in 2009. It reveals that the medical isotope in the country has experienced crisis. It also indicates the plan of GE Healthcare and Covidien Ltd. to conduct hike prices for isotope deliveries to the nuclear medicine clinics in the country.

The article focuses on the proposal concerning the exploration of alternative medical-isotopes sources in Canada. It states that a task force in Canada seeks for alternative isotope production to supply the medical demand in the country following the controversies of the 51-year-old National Research Universal reactor. It also mentions that the shortage of medical isotopes in the country resulted to the cancellation of several medical and diagnostic procedures.

The article reports on the halting of the development of the Multipurpose Applied Physics Lattice Experiment (MAPLE) reactors in Canada. The Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. declared their plans to halt the commissioning of the reactors which were seen as the new supply of the country's medical isotope. Focus will instead be redirected to the maintenance of the National Research Universal reactor. Factors contributing to the termination of MAPLE include a budget which has exceeded five hundred million dollars and design and regulatory problems.

The article reports on the rise of Canadian Hospitals during the shortage of medical isotope supply as determined by Andrew Ross of the Halifax and Nova Scotia―based Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. It mentions that there had been no advance warning or news from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. that there was a possible medical isotope supply interruption which led to the dilemma of many hospitals in Canada. It discusses that hospitals will not be able to operate well if there are no medical isotopes, for these isotopes are being used in diagnosing ailments like heart disease and cancer. Because of this incident, hospital staffs joined hand-in-hand by means of sharing dwindling supplies and working tirelessly just to accommodate patients.

The author reflects on the government passage of emergency legislation to override the safety concerns of Canada's nuclear watchdog and reopen the nuclear reactor that produces isotopes for medical imaging. He assesses that hospitals have struggled to cope with isotope shortage and patient blacklogs. He states that the government lacks national backup plan to obtain isotopes in the event of shutdown or mishap at Chalk River, which supplies over one half of the world's technetium.