A well-known medical manufacturer in Kanata is currently in the process of surrendering its nuclear license after Canada’s nuclear regulatory authority issued orders due to violations of the license terms. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has verified that Best Theratronics is in the process of transferring the nuclear material used for manufacturing cancer treatment devices.
During a public meeting, Andrew McAllister, the director of the CNSC’s nuclear processing facilities division, announced that Best Theratronics Limited has acquired export licenses for shipping its Cobalt 60 sealed sources and Cesium 137 sealed sources. Formerly a government agency that developed the world’s first cancer treatment device, Best Theratronics has faced challenges under the private ownership of overseas entrepreneur Krishnan Suthanthiran.
Suthanthiran reported substantial financial losses since acquiring the company in 2007. The company also endured a lengthy labor dispute where employees went on strike for nearly 10 months seeking better wages. Last year, the CNSC issued directives against Best Theratronics for failing to renew its financial guarantee, ordering the company to allocate $1.8 million to cover potential cleanup costs in case of decommissioning.
Despite the CNSC’s requirements, Suthanthiran did not comply, stating to CBC that he lacked the funds to reinstate the guarantee. Instead, he decided to surrender the nuclear license and transition the company towards non-nuclear activities, anticipating the loss of 200 high-tech jobs due to relocation to the United States and India.
Best Theratronics is obligated to provide monthly progress reports on the nuclear material transfer, but missed the December deadline and submitted the report a few days later, attributing the delay to Suthanthiran’s unavailability. The company is expected to present a preliminary decommissioning plan for its Kanata facility by the upcoming Tuesday deadline.