**Owner of Ottawa Medical Manufacturer Claims Financial Hardship** The owner of Best Theratronics, a medical manufacturer in Ottawa, stated he lacks the funds to comply with a directive from Canada's nuclear regulator. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) ordered the company to restore a lapsed financial guarantee last year. In November 2024, the CNSC issued two orders against Best Theratronics, which produces cancer treatment devices using Cobalt-60 radioactive isotopes. The company has been embroiled in a labor dispute with striking workers. One order addressed safety concerns at the plant, which is currently closed, while the other mandated a $1.8 million financial guarantee for potential cleanup costs if the facility needs decommissioning. Owner Krishnan Suthanthiran expressed his inability to pay the required amount, claiming that no banks are willing to provide loans. "No banks will give us a loan," he said during a news conference at the facility in Kanata. He added, "My cost of having a finished licence is $2 million here — I cannot afford that," and hinted at the possibility of relocating operations to India or the United States. Suthanthiran criticized the CNSC, asserting that the financial guarantee imposed was excessively burdensome. He claimed, "CNSC is in violation of its own rules." The CNSC confirmed that Best Theratronics remains in violation of its nuclear license but did not disclose what actions it might take to enforce compliance. A spokesperson stated, "The issue remains under active regulatory review and CNSC staff have brought additional information to the Commission’s attention for its consideration." As the regulatory body for Canadian nuclear facilities, the CNSC has the authority to issue orders, impose fines, revoke licenses, and initiate prosecutions. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May criticized Suthanthiran, stating he is making a "mockery" of the CNSC. She accused the commission of being too lenient with the industry it oversees, saying, "The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has been described as a captive regulator for good reason for a very long time. But this is at the level of a bad actor." May argued that Best Theratronics should not retain its operating license. Best Theratronics, originally a division of Atomic Energy of Canada, was known for producing the first cobalt-based cancer therapy systems in the 1950s. The company was sold to MDS Nordion before Suthanthiran acquired it in 2008 for approximately $15 million. Suthanthiran, who has a history of managing medical manufacturing companies, noted that he plans to cease operations requiring a nuclear license in Canada. He mentioned that some activities could continue at the Kanata plant without a license. He also expressed challenges in hiring skilled workers, stating that the workforce has dwindled from nearly 200 employees to about 60 due to the strike. "We cannot find skilled workers," he said, adding, "We [could] hire 50 machinists. We can't find them." Suthanthiran's comments reflect ongoing challenges within the company as it navigates regulatory compliance and labor issues.