TORONTO - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says he still wants to buy two nuclear reactors from Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., but can't because the federal Conservatives are standing in the way.
He says the province's efforts to move ahead with the purchase have been stymied by Ottawa's decision nearly two years ago to put AECL's nuclear reactor business up for sale.
McGuinty says he's appealed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to allow Ontario to negotiate a deal with AECL, which would have enhanced its value.
But he says Ontario has been sitting alone at the negotiating table for months while the Conservative government tries to sell the heavily subsidized Crown corporation.
Two major bidders have apparently walked away from talks to buy AECL, and McGuinty says he's not interested in purchasing it either.
He says it's a big responsibility and Ontario isn't prepared to get involved in that kind of arrangement.
