Ottawa Medical Manufacturer Defies Nuclear Regulator Over $1.8M Cleanup Order
The owner of Best Theratronics Ltd., an Ottawa-based medical equipment manufacturer, says he cannot afford to meet the financial demands of Canada’s nuclear regulator — even as his company remains in violation of its licence.
In November 2024, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) ordered Best Theratronics to restore a $1.8-million financial guarantee, meant to cover potential decommissioning or cleanup costs. The order came amid a lengthy labour dispute that halted operations at the firm’s Kanata facility.
At a press conference this week, company owner Krishnan Suthanthiran said his firm lacks the funds to comply.
“No banks will give us a loan,” Suthanthiran said. “The cost of keeping the licence is nearly $2 million — I cannot afford that.”
He accused the CNSC of overreach and hinted at moving operations to India or the United States, calling Canada “not business-friendly.”
The CNSC confirmed the company is still out of compliance, saying the matter remains under active regulatory review, though it did not specify what enforcement action might follow. The commission has the authority to issue fines, revoke licences or pursue prosecution in such cases.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May criticized both the company and the regulator, calling the situation “a mockery.”
“Best Theratronics shouldn’t still have a licence to operate,” May said, arguing the CNSC has grown too close to the industry it oversees.
Best Theratronics traces its roots to Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., which pioneered cobalt-based cancer therapy machines in the 1950s. After being sold to MDS Nordion, the company was acquired by Suthanthiran in 2008 for around $15 million.
Once employing nearly 200 people, the firm now has roughly 60 workers left. Suthanthiran blamed the strike and skill shortages for the decline.
“We could hire 50 machinists today — we just can’t find them,” he said.
While some non-nuclear manufacturing may continue at the Kanata site, Suthanthiran indicated plans to end any operations requiring a nuclear licence in Canada.
