The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Desneth-Missinippi-Churchill River Member of Parliament Jeremy Harrison has expressed serious concerns with Prime Minister Paul Martin's signing of a development agreement with China regarding Canada's oil sands, uranium and nuclear industries. Pointing to the publicly stated desire of the Chinese government to obtain ownership and control of Canadian resources and raw materials, Harrison expressed concerns about the possibility of Canadian uranium assets falling under the control of the Chinese government. "It would be a tragedy if uranium from northern Saskatchewan were found in the nuclear warheads of one of the most dangerous nations on the planet," wrote the MP. Harrison raised particular concerns regarding the exchange of Canadian nuclear research and technology with China under this agreement. He stressed that "there is significant evidence to suggest that the Chinese government has been one of the worst offenders in the proliferation of nuclear high-technology. Credible evidence points to China as playing an instrumental role in the development of the nuclear weapons programs of the rogue states of Iran and North Korea." In his letter, Harrison also expressed concern regarding the agreement's impact on his northern Saskatchewan riding, which includes the most extensive deposits of high-grade uranium ore in the world. The Prime Minister's Office failed to inform or consult Mr. Harrison of the agreement either before or after it was signed.
