Conservatives: Pro-Religion & Anti-Science

The Harper government has divested itself of scientific counsel while at the same time invested money in religion; this from a first world nation at the dawning of the 21st century.

The often antagonistic relationship between the governing Conservatives and Canada’s scientific community turned acrimonious soon after the Tories won a minority government in 2006 and made the key decision later that year to marginalize the Office of the National Science Advisor.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/30/science-cuts-muzzling-canada-conservatives_n_3112348.html

Don't believe it?  This is what one scientist opined:

“It means that international scientists will not want to collaborate with Canadian scientists,” he said. “This is reminiscent of the Cold War era, with the KGB in Russia … George Orwell would just be chuckling in his grave.” - See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/harper-controlled-dfo-is-censoring-federal-scientists-with-research-rules-critics-say-1.75280#sthash.A33ShF7p.dpuf

"It means that international scientists will not want to collaborate with Canadian scientists, he said. "This is reminiscent of the Cold War era, with the KGB in Russia... George Orwell would just be chuckling in his grave."

 http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/harper-controlled-dfo-is-censoring-federal-scientists-with-research-rules-critics-say-1.75280

This is completely contrary to their stated position in the new 2014 science plan:

6.2.2 Promoting Open Science

As part of a government-wide initiative to broaden the breadth and depth of information available online through the Action Plan on Open Government, our Government will advance open science policies and practices for publicly funded research by increasing public access to the results of government funded research.

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/07482.html#promoting


How can one muzzle scientists on one hand and at the same time make their information available?  Simple, you vet it for sensitive stuff that's not good for you and then paste the safe material on the Internet and ignore all of it.

At the same time, the Conservatives are pro religion; funding an office of religious freedoms complete with budget to promote religion overseas.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/niqab-debate-important-for-canadians-religious-freedoms-ambassador-says-1.2276352


Here's the problem: the future crises facing our nation, facing our children, are going to need solutions.  Global warming, plentiful fresh water, global competitiveness, advanced weaponry, are just some of the future issues governments need to tackle. Governments need to lead the people and position the nation in the face of serious challenges.  Are any of those solved with religion?  Can a shaman predict rain reliably?  Can a rabbi counsel you how to deal with improvised explosive devices (IED)?

Praying for guidance is free.  Keeping up with science issues is not.

Investing money in religion is not a wise government decision.  Manipulating science outputs to commercial only purposes and ignoring science counsel at the highest level does not help Canada into the future.