Associate membership in support of clean air CANDU technology for Ontario

Mississauga, 2006 October 26 — The Asthma Society of Canada is joining the growing number of companies and organizations supporting the selection of CANDU technology for new nuclear power plants in Ontario by becoming a Team CANDU Associate Member.

“The Asthma Society of Canada supports the Ontario government’s plan to clean up Ontario’s air with a mix of conservation, renewable energy, and smog-free nuclear power,” says Asthma Society of Canada CEO Frank Viti. “CANDU nuclear energy produces virtually none of the pollutants that contribute to smog. With our membership in Team CANDU, we are showing our full support for the selection of made-in-Canada CANDU technology for Ontario.”

Recent statistics estimate that smog causes between 300 and 1,600 deaths in Canada each year. By reducing harmful emissions, it also implies that nuclear power in Canada has saved between 4,000 and 20,000 lives since its inception. (Source: www.nuclearfaq.ca)

“We are delighted to welcome the Asthma Society of Canada as Team CANDU Associates and their support for the CANDU industry here in Canada,” said AECL’s President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Van Adel. “Clean, reliable CANDU nuclear has been the backbone of Ontario’s base load electricity supply for decades and has avoided billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide, green house gases, acid gases and fine particulate matter.”

About The Asthma Society of Canada

The Asthma Society of Canada is a registered charitable organization that strives to ensure that every Canadian diagnosed with asthma and associated allergies enjoys a high quality of life. It supports Canadians to achieve symptom-free asthma through the delivery of accredited and relevant asthma self-management education and certified asthma counselling. For more information, visit http://www.asthma.ca

About Team CANDU

Team CANDU represents five of the world’s leading nuclear technology and engineering companies, that have signed a four-year agreement to work together to present a fixed-price turn-key contract for building new nuclear power plants in Ontario. Members of Team CANDU consist of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Babcock & Wilcox Canada, GE Canada, Hitachi Canada Ltd. and SNC-Lavalin Nuclear Inc. More detailed information can be found at www.CANDUCanada.ca

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Contact:

Dale Coffin
Director, Corporate Communications
Direct: 905-403-7457
E-Mail: coffind@aecl.ca