As a retired public servant I want to express my concern over the current government’s recent budget.  I saw previous Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments make budget cuts to the public service, usually leaving each department to make the final decision over where to apply their share of the reductions.  To my knowledge the current government is the first to make targeted reductions.  To do this in such a blatant manner as to reduce science capacity within Canada is very concerning.  Yes, universities also carry out scientific research but usually in three year funding cycles and targeted to their and the funding sources interest.  Government scientists are the only ones who can respond to a sudden crisis such as the amnesic shellfish toxin incident in 1997.  Locally, work at the St. Andrews Biological Station in the 1960s is the basis for the salmon aquaculture business on both our eastern and western coasts.  Without that research I am sure the current successful commercial businesses would not exist.  It is future Canadian business development which will be hampered by these cuts, not just the degradation of our environment.

 

I have always exercised my democratic right and duty by voting in all elections but not been politically active, however the actions of the current federal government are enough to get me involved.  I just hope that other Canadians with similar feelings express their opinions too and help to change this blow to science.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Brenda Waiwood