no science please were conservatives

No science please, we're Conservatives

Mini Bush, following the conservative ideology to a tee, eliminating

the National Science Adviser's position:

The one scientist in this country who had direct access to the

Prime Minister is being dismissed. Canada's National Science

Adviser, Dr. Arthur Carty, was appointed by former Prime Minister

Paul Martin to provide expert advice on the government's role in

matters of science and science policy. Now, less than four years

after the position was created, the Harper government feels that

it's no longer necessary.

The National Science Adviser is a voice of reason to the government

over actions it should take on issues such as climate change,

genetically modified foods, managing fisheries, sustaining the

environment - any time the politicians need to be educated on the

basic science behind those often controversial issues. Of course,

decisions are seldom made for purely scientific reasons; all too

often, the interests of industry, special interest groups or a

misinformed public will cloud the scientific truth. The Adviser's

job is to provide clarity and perspective.

Dr. Carty is extremely well qualified for this position. He was

president of the National Research Council for 10 years and a

prominent professor at Waterloo University for 27 years, among

other accomplishments.

Yes, extremely well qualified. But what does that matter? In the

Harper government's eyes, he was appointed by Paul Martin and that

makes him capable of being characterized as a "Liberal hack" in the

vein of the hatchet job they did on Linda Keen, the chief nuclear

regulator.

All science involves uncertainties - that's the way the system

works. But it takes a scientific eye to determine whether those

uncertainties are significant or not. Without that perspective, a

politician hears conflicting views or biased information that

clouds the issue and confuses the public.

That's where the National Science Adviser comes in. He or she is an

independent, expert witness whose job is to provide perspective and

education to the people at the top where the decisions are made.

Apparently, that's no longer going to happen in Canada.

To that we say, we are shocked that such a move would occur under the