Ontario's Decision to Suspend Nuclear Project at Darlington is a Major Setback: Society of Professional Engineers and

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Jun 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
Note to editor: Dr. Michael Ivanco is available for comment today

This morning's announcement by the Government of Ontario to suspend the
competitive RFP to procure two replacement nuclear reactors at Darlington
is a major setback for the Canadian nuclear industry and will cost
Ontario jobs and future opportunities, according to the Society of
Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA).

"The decision to suspend the nuclear project will have ripples across the
industry and will likely result in more job losses in the manufacturing
sector and amongst technology workers. Key teams were assembled for this
project and we are concerned those teams may disband, resulting in a loss
of institutional knowledge that is vital for the success of the project,"
said Dr. Michael Ivanco, Vice President of SPEA. "For the domestic
industry, a major delay, such as this one, can be as bad as losing out in
the bidding process, making us ultimately dependent on the foreign
suppliers that AECL appears to have won out over."

In a press conference today, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and
Infrastructure George Smitherman indicated that only Atomic Energy of
Canada Limited (AECL) met the criteria set out in an exhaustive RFP
process. However, the government is concerned about 'pricing and
uncertainty regarding AECL's future.' The decision will mean that AECL
now has no new domestic customers for its ACR-1000 design, the next
generation of CANDU reactors.

"The federal government has created tremendous instability that no doubt
affected the Government of Ontario's decision today," Ivanco said. "The
decision to breakup AECL and look for a private partner or investor was
announced a few weeks ago and sent a message that the Government of
Canada does not have confidence in AECL.

"As the scientists and engineers of AECL we know what a world leader the
company is and what potential it holds for Canadians," said Ivanco. "We
need the Government of Canada to complete the reorganization quickly
while maintaining majority control of the company. AECL has demonstrated
that it has the technical capability of delivering a winning bid for
Ontario. Now we need to remove this impediment and quickly negotiate a
contract to build this project."

With a recession devastating Ontario's manufacturing and construction
industry, this project would have created thousands of well-paying jobs
in hard hit communities such as Oshawa. "Suspending this project may
increase the cost to taxpayers down the road as interest rates are at an
all time low and the cost of borrowing will only go up," Ivanco said.

For more information about SPEA, please visit: www.spea.ca

About the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates

The Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA) is an
independent union and represents engineers and scientists who work for
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). With over 900 members, over half
of who have advanced university degrees, SPEA members are engineers of
every type (civil, mechanical, electrical etc.) as well as scientists and
MBAs. Collectively SPEA represent most of Canada's nuclear power reactor
design expertise.

Contacts:
Society of Professional Engineers and Associates
Michelle Duncan
416-427-3525
www.spea.ca

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