Toronto – October 17, 2023 – Today in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound MPP Rick Byers introduced a Private Members’ Motion to include medical isotopes in the province’s Life Sciences Strategy. The motion received support from all parties in the legislature and marks a significant advocacy milestone for Ontario’s isotope industry.
The motion emphasizes the importance of formally recognizing medical isotopes in the Ontario Life Sciences and Commercial Strategy because of their crucial role in medical research and Ontario’s opportunity to maximize its position in the growing international isotope market.
Through the Ontario Life Sciences Strategy, new investments in production routes and research would help Ontario increase its production capacity and explore innovations in medical isotopes. This progress would help Ontario become one of the most sophisticated medical isotope communities in the world.
This milestone follows advocacy efforts from the CNIC and its members through the Isotopes for Hope campaign which has encouraged governments to declare Canada’s supply of isotopes as a key priority and essential element of strategic infrastructure. Including isotopes in Ontario’s Life Sciences Strategy and future healthcare, infrastructure, life sciences, and commercial strategies will ensure the industry can continue to grow into the future by providing predictability and stability.
The CNIC and its over 77 members from across Canada thank MPP Rick Byers and the Government of Ontario for taking this important step to support the growing isotope industry and for supporting the CNIC’s advocacy efforts.
“With significant growth anticipated in the global market for medical isotopes, investing in the isotope industry will not only save lives, but will also create high-paying jobs, encourage economic growth, and attract additional investment in Ontario,” said James Scongack, Chair of the CNIC. “As we continue to advocate to ensure that patients have access to life-saving nuclear medicine treatments and diagnostic procedures, this motion is a testament to growing recognition of the role of isotopes in modern medicine.”
The CNIC hopes to build on the momentum of this motion to other provinces across the country and to the Government of Canada.
About the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
The CNIC is a coalition of science, healthcare and nuclear-sector organizations to ensure Canada remains a world leader in the production of life-saving isotopes by bringing awareness and supporting long-term policies at the domestic and international level that will save countless lives and support health-care innovation for decades to come.
To learn more about the CNIC visit www.CanadianIsotopes.ca and follow us on, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
For more information, please contact:
Melody Greaves
Policy, Government, and Stakeholder Relations Specialist
Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council
Melody.Greaves@canadianisotopes.ca