Parliamentary Committee Asks the Government to implement the Canadian Neutron Initiative

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) has recommended the Government of Canada to “implement the Canadian Neutron Initiative, upgrade and fully utilize the McMaster nuclear reactor, and facilitate international nuclear research partnerships,” in its December 8, 2017 report, Driving Inclusive Growth: Spurring Productivity And Competitiveness In Canada. The report is the culmination of the Committee’s consultations for the 2018 budget.

The recommendation to implement the CNI is part of a series to address the Committee’s recognition of “the importance of research, development and commercialization in contributing to the productivity and competitiveness of Canada’s businesses.” The recommendation follows the testimony of the Canadian Neutron Initiative Working Group, which “called for a commitment to fund a 10-year university-led framework, the Canadian Neutron Initiative, for research in materials and innovation enabled by neutron beams,” and of McMaster University, which “asked for the government to consider long-term solutions to neutron access in Canada.”

The testimonies concerning the CNI as presented to FINA are available from the CNI resource page.