Tory budget confirms Cyclotron

The federal budget includes a $4 million investment for a cyclotron in Thunder Bay, officials from the region’s hospital confirmed Monday.

The Conservative led federal government released its 2011-2012 budget Monday afternoon in on Parliament Hill. The budget was similar to one the government attempted to pass through Parliament months before.

"Today's Federal Budget includes a commitment to $4 million in funding to purchase a cyclotron and radio-pharmacy, and to build the space to house the cyclotron in Thunder Bay,” said Angele Brunelle, chair of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center.
 
“This is great news. The announcement of the cyclotron funding sets us apart. And, because there are so few cyclotrons in the world it positions us well for the future.”

The $4 million investment was first made public days before the government presented its proposed federal budget to Parliament in late March.

During the recent election campaign, Conservative Party candidates promised that the money earmarked for cyclotron in that budget would remain if Harper won his re-election bid.