When do we get to put the "gate" suffix on?

There is something about the Chalk River nuclear reactor fiasco that should not go away. Or, as Greg Weston puts it, two things. (My emphasis)

Further proof this is a government that doesn't let the truth get in the way of public opinion is to be found in the contents of Raitt's lost briefing book.

For instance, taxpayers learn for the first time that the Harper government has pumped a staggering $1.7 billion into Atomic Energy just in the past three years -- most of it up in smoke if the Chalk River reactor remains beyond repair.

Even if the reactor had remained working, Raitt's briefing documents say Canadian taxpayers would have had to shell out $72 million this year to produce medical isotopes, 90% of which go to U.S. hospitals.

The documents openly admit the financial truth about Chalk River was deliberately hidden in the last federal budget.

And...

Sixteen months ago, the Harper government ordered the reactor restarted after a shutdown for safety reasons, saying cancer and heart patients would die without an immediate isotope supply.

At that time, the shutdown lasted four weeks and the world's other four isotope reactors were operating.

This time, the situation is far worse -- Chalk River is out of order indefinitely and two of the other reactors are also down.

Yet, Raitt testified at a Commons committee this week there is nothing to panic about.

Either the Harper government lied to Canadians 16 months ago, or it is lying today.

But one thing is certain, there is a huge, deliberate lie involved and it starts with Harper.

When government is caught lying and covering up to protect itself from the bright lights of public inquiry it usually comes with a name, thanks to Richard Nixon.

So when do we hang the "gate" off this one?

More at Impolitical.

Ah! There it is.