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.
This week, Harper said that he's going to stay out of the Northern Gateway oil pipeline issue. Should the pipeline be pushed through from the Alberta oilsands to the coast of B.C.? It should be evaluated on an independent basis.
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 Conservatives have been no great respecters of science.
Agree with them or not, the government has taken action on crime and the economy. But on issues of global warming and the environment, they have dithered and stalled, playing musical chairs with the Ministry of the Environment. Worse, poor current Environment Minister Peter Kent is forced to instruct members of his own caucus that human-caused global warming is a real thing.
Outside of Parliament, the Conservatives have tried to muzzle government scientists, shut down longstanding 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 criteria.
It's nice that Harper has found a new respect for science. It's just a shame that he seems to have mislaid it until this week.
