More questions and not a lot of answers today about the future of Atomic Energy of Canada.

They came at the House of Commons standing committee looking at budget spending at the Department of Natural Resources.

Minister Gary Lunn was on the hot seat answering questions about Atomic Energy's future.

His government has pledged to spend $300 million this year and next to help refurbish the aging nuclear site in Chalk River, Ontario and to help AECL finish the design of its newest ACR 1000 reactor.

Atomic Energy is in the midst of a crucial bid against three other companies to build Ontario's new nuclear reactors.

The crown corporation was also the focus of an international shortage of medical isotopes late last year that led to the controversial firing of the head of Canada's nuclear watchdog.

Lunn's department is reviewing the future of Atomic Energy and has hired the National Bank to do a complete review of the crown corporation.

But many opposition and industry observers predict the conservative government will privatize AECL, selling off the best bits to the highest bidder.

Here's a bit of the exchange about that between Minister Gary Lunn and Liberal MP Omar Alghabra:

Alghabra:

"Are you going to privatize AECL, it's important for Ontario and the scientists and hardworking individuals to know what the government's commitment is?

Lunn:
"We are looking at AECL with a critical eye so it can emerge a world leader with a great technology.
I am confident AECL can compete with the other technologies in the Ontario bid process and will emerge successful.

Alghabra: "So privatization is on the table?"

Lunn: "I've said that all the options are on the table none will be excluded."

So, privatization is sort of a possibility and sort of not.

The review of AECL is expected to be finished by the end of the year.