Canada’s opportunity to host ITER project fades as feds fail to commit to project

The door on Canada’s chances of hosting or participating in the international ITER fusion project closed even further last week with the decision by the European Union (EU) to rally behind France as it single site bid. The EU decision to choose France over Spain as its official bid to host the multi billion dollar research facility leaves Japan as the only other formal competitor. A decision on the site could be made as early as this week in Vienna, but Canada is not officially recognized as a bidder since the federal government has not committed to the project.

The Vienna deadline is just the latest in a series of deadlines that, if missed by the federal government, could see Canada dropped from consideration as the host nation for the $12-billion experimental nuclear reactor. A potential site at Clarington ON on Lake Ontario near the Darlington nuclear power station has been widely acknowledged as the best of all sites put forward. The previous Ontario government formally backed the project and committed to paying half the $2.3-billion price tag to participate, contingent on a positive federal decision. The provincial commitment has been reaffirmed by newly elected premier Dalton McGuinty.

RUMOUR MILL IN OVERDRIVE

There has already been media speculation that, given the extended silence on the issue, the federal government will not proceed on an ITER bid. Many within the scientific community agree and there is a growing consensus that it is not in Canada’s best interests to devote scarce financial resources on a science project with little chance of a payoff or concrete applications for decades to come. Unless Ottawa acts quickly, even those involved in the Canadian proposal acknowledge the bid will almost certainly die.

ITER Canada president/CEO Dr Murray Stewart says he’d be surprised if a decision on the site location will be made in Vienna so quickly after the EU selected the French site proposal as its official bid. But he urges the incoming government of Paul Martin to act promptly.

“There’s been no progress from the federal perspective in the last several months because of the change of government in Ottawa. But we’re hoping for a decision very quickly after December 12th,” says Stewart. “Up to this point, even if we could have forced something it would be so qualified that it wouldn’t get us anywhere with the international parties anyway. The game is afoot and we need some breathing room.”

In contrast to the federal government, Ontario has been responsive to the timelines laid out by the international ITER negotiations. The previous provincial government committed to covering half the $2.3-billion, multi-year cost of participating, contingent upon federal support for the other half. New premier Dalton McGuinty has pledged to honour the Ontario commitment.

Earlier this year, Dr Tony Vandevoet was appointed director of the Office of the ITER Ontario Project within the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade’s Science and Technology division. Vandervoet will remain in the position until a federal decision is made, and longer if Ottawa decides to mount a formal bid. He says the latest deadline is just one of many that have come and gone, but acknowledges that concern over timing is mounting.

“The negotiations are in such flux that I could probably give you 10 deadlines. The complexity of negotiations could result in further deadline changes,” he says, adding that the fluid political environment federally has delayed Canada’s ultimate decision on ITER. “These transitions always slow things down.”

ALREADY ON SIDELINES

In the absence of a federal decision on ITER, Canada’s negotiating team has been unable to participate in many of the discussions surrounding the siting of the facility. Participation has been more substantial on the many technical items being discussed by the participating countries.

“The Canadian delegation has been very active during these discussions,” says Vandervoet. “The Canadian teams brings a lot of common sense and logic and helps facilitate discussion.”

The massive fusion research facility has been on the books for many years now but the latest round of negotiations represent its best chance yet to become a reality.

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