There were safer altenatives for medical iostopes.

I do not think AECL failed. I think Parliament has failed by voting against safety in the Chalk River reactor case. There was a time when safety was not questioned or overruled by politicians. There are apparently safe reactors in Europe that could have supplied the needed isotopes. Also this would not have been bomb grade uranium used as a source. I am afraid that most Canadians aware of this news item are not aware of the alternative choices that should have been made in my opinion.

Our home energy use v 90% reduction by 2030

You can see our failing chart here http://www.cyborgcitizen.org/ElectricityReduction.htm