So the 2008 federal budget was released today. The big item that'll get the most press I'm sure is the tax free savings account. Throw up to $5000 a year in a special account, and any interest it gathers will not be taxed when withdrawn. But one of the things that caught my eye was their environmental contributions:
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On Monday, the Suzuki Foundation unveiled a plan for a tax on carbon that David Suzuki said could generate between $50 billion and $100 billion in revenues.
Instead, the government promised $250 million for carbon capture and storage projects [held in trust for Saskatchewan's coal burning plants, to be matched by the province], plus $66 million to lay the groundwork for a regulatory system for industrial emissions that would price carbon and introduce carbon trading in Canada.
They're also granting $300 Million to Atomic Energy for development on advanced nuclear reactors. This after firing the woman in charge of nuclear safety for reporting an unsafe reactor. Since we're talking Harper and the Environment, here's a quote from Rick Mercer's blog that really shows the conservative party's colours.
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...be very proud of the fact that Canadian scientists won the Nobel Peace Prize. I mean this is the mother of all prizes. In fact, Mother Theresa got one.
So what happened this past week when these Canadian scientists came to Parliament Hill for a reception in their honour with their Nobel prize tucked up underneath their arms? The Prime Minister, the guy who's job it is to represent us at these things refused to attend. The Canadian cabinet refused to attend. And why? Because these scientists, who - I don't know if I've mentioned this or not – won the Nobel Peace Prize, had the gall to do it by formulating a plan to fight climate change. And my guess is it doesn't call for an increase in oil sands production. So as a result, not a single cabinet minister would cross the hall and shake their hands.
Now remember, this is the same government that just recently fired the national science advisor. A guy whose job it was to advise the Prime Minister and cabinet on all issues pertaining to science. Well they just didn't see the need for that guy. With this crowd being a science advisor is a bit like being the Maytag repairman. The phone just doesn't ring.
What I want to know is: how did we get here? Canadian scientists discovered insulin. We invented the Robertson screwdriver for God's sakes. And suddenly science is the new enemy.
I understand that in politics people and parties have enemies, and destroying your enemy is the name of the game. That's the way you win. But we cannot allow the government to declare war on knowledge, otherwise we all lose.
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