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Krishnan Suthanthiran, the owner of Best Theratronics — a medical manufacturing company in Ottawa — announced that he has no financial means to comply with an order issued by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The order, made in November 2024, required the company to restore a $1.8 million financial guarantee, intended to cover potential cleanup costs if the plant needed decommissioning.
Best Theratronics, which manufactures cancer treatment devices using Cobalt-60 radioactive isotopes, has been operating in violation of its nuclear licence for nearly a year. The situation worsened after a prolonged labour dispute that left the plant understaffed and raised safety concerns.
During a press conference at the company’s facility in Kanata, Suthanthiran stated that the CNSC’s financial requirements were unreasonable and that “no banks will give us a loan.” He claimed the regulator was “in violation of its own rules” and hinted at the possibility of moving his operations to India or the United States.
The CNSC confirmed that Best Theratronics remains non-compliant but declined to specify what enforcement actions might follow. As the authority overseeing Canada’s nuclear industry, the CNSC can impose fines, revoke licences, or initiate legal proceedings.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May strongly criticized the situation, accusing the commission of being too lenient toward the industry. “This is at the level of a bad actor,” she said, emphasizing that Best Theratronics “shouldn’t still have a licence to operate.”
Founded in the 1950s as part of Atomic Energy of Canada, Best Theratronics has a long history in cancer therapy technology. However, since Suthanthiran’s acquisition in 2008, the company has faced financial and legal controversies. On Thursday, he stated that he plans to discontinue all operations in Canada requiring a nuclear licence, blaming an unfavourable business environment and a lack of skilled labour.
“This company used to have nearly 200 employees. Now we have about 60,” Suthanthiran said, adding that skilled machinists are increasingly difficult to find.
