The owner of a medical manufacturing company in Ottawa admits to lacking funds to meet the requirements set by Canada’s nuclear regulator. Best Theratronics, known for producing cancer treatment devices using Cobalt-60 isotopes, faced orders from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in November 2024 due to safety concerns and financial obligations.
The company, embroiled in a labor dispute at the time, was directed by the CNSC to provide a $1.8-million financial guarantee for potential decommissioning expenses. Nearly a year later, owner Krishnan Suthanthiran cited financial constraints, claiming an inability to secure loans to fulfill the CNSC’s demands, suggesting potential relocation of operations to India or the United States.
Despite ongoing non-compliance, the CNSC refrained from disclosing planned enforcement actions but highlighted continued regulatory scrutiny. Criticism arose from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, condemning the perceived leniency of the CNSC towards Best Theratronics’ violations.
Formerly part of Atomic Energy of Canada and later acquired by Suthanthiran in 2008, Best Theratronics had a historical background in cancer therapy systems. Suthanthiran, facing challenges in hiring skilled workers post-strike, expressed intentions to shift away from nuclear-related manufacturing in Canada, emphasizing difficulties in recruiting qualified personnel.
The company’s workforce had significantly declined, with Suthanthiran lamenting the struggle to find skilled employees post-strike, attributing the difficulty to the negative reputation stemming from the labor dispute. The future of the company’s operations in Kanata remains uncertain, with potential non-nuclear activities continuing while nuclear-related manufacturing faces uncertainties in compliance and workforce availability.