It's nice to see Prime Minister Stephen Harper standing up for science. Like a solar eclipse, it happens only a few times a year.
Harper said he's going to stay out of the Northern Gateway oil pipeline issue. Should the pipeline be pushed through from the Alberta oil sands to the coast of B.C.? Leave it up to the experts, says the PM. It should be evaluated on an independent basis. We agree, science and engineering studies must inform this decision, especially on what the likelihood of a pipeline breach or tanker spill might be.
But it seems Harper is using science as a political cover to avoid stepping into the messy, multi-way fight between pipeline opponents, proponents, and the premiers of B.C. and Alberta who are squabbling over the proceeds.
In the past, Harper and his modern Conservatives have been no great respecters of science. On issues of global warming and the environment, they have dithered and stalled, playing musical chairs with the federal environment ministry.
Poor current Environment Minister Peter Kent is forced to instruct members of his own caucus that, yes, human caused global warming is real. The Conservatives have tried to muzzle government scientists, shut down long-standing scientific research projects and "streamlined" environmental legislation. The recent federal budget will lead to about 200 job losses among scientists and support staff at Environment Canada, and grants seem to be either drying up or changing their criteria. Canada faces threats and challenges from a changing climate to a changing world trade situation, and without a solid core of Canadians who understand science, we will fail to thrive over the coming decades or even centuries. Cutting back on research and public outreach by scientists is never a good idea.
It's nice that Harper has found a new respect for science. It's just a shame that he seems to have mislaid it.
