INCOME TAXES (Details 4) (USD $)	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Pooled Scientific Research and Experimental Development	Dec. 31, 2011 Pooled Scientific Research and Experimental Development	Dec. 31, 2012 Unclaimed ITCs and Research & Development	Dec. 31, 2011 Unclaimed ITCs and Research & Development	Dec. 31, 2012 Pre-acquisition losses arising from merger	Dec. 31, 2012 5.375% Convertible Notes due in August, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011 5.375% Convertible Notes due in August, 2014	Dec. 31, 2010 5.375% Convertible Notes due in August, 2014	Jun. 30, 2009 5.375% Convertible Notes due in August, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012 Canada	Dec. 31, 2011 Canada	Dec. 31, 2012 Canada 5.375% Convertible Notes due in August, 2014	Dec. 31, 2011 Canada 5.375% Convertible Notes due in August, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012 U.S. Federal, State and Local	Dec. 31, 2011 U.S. Federal, State and Local	Dec. 31, 2012 U.S. Federal, State and Local Limitations on use of operating losses resulting from merger
INCOME TAXES
Deferred tax liability on 5.375% Convertible Notes		$ 2,268,000										$ 14,600,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									5.375%	5.375%	5.375%	5.375%			5.375%	5.375%
Principal amount of notes repurchased															18,700,000	205,000,000
Foreign exchange gain	19,721,000	26,551,000	574,000												1,100,000	24,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in valuation allowance	(4,200,000)	(57,700,000)																	(64,100,000)
Increase (Decrease) in valuation allowance														6,400,000
Accumulated losses available for federal and provincial purposes								332,200,000					397,500,000	318,100,000			430,600,000	512,100,000
Pre-acquisition losses arising from the merger related to the exercise of non-qualified stock options and restricted stock awards																	13,500,000
Unclaimed Investment Tax Credits and research and development credits						44,900,000	43,600,000
Tax credit carryforward				255,600,000	248,300,000
Valuation allowance against deferred tax assets	124,515,000	128,742,000											122,000,000	124,600,000
Accumulated tax losses subject to a NOLs related to annual loss limitation restrictions								185,900,000
Research and development tax credits	$ 67,683,000	$ 62,766,000															$ 22,800,000	$ 19,200,000