Harper and Co. Get Failing Grade in Science

The science journal Nature has just put up an editorial excoriating the Harper government for its lousy attitude to science.

Concerns can only be enhanced by the government's manifest disregard for science. Since prime minister Stephen Harper came to power, his government has been sceptical of the science on climate change and has backed away from Canada's Kyoto commitment. In January, it muzzled Environment Canada's scientists, ordering them to route all media enquires through Ottawa to control the agency's media message. Last week, the prime minister and members of the cabinet failed to attend a ceremony to honour the Canadian scientists who contributed to the international climate-change report that won a share of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr. "It-may-be-a-belching-plume-of-filthy-smoke-right-now-but-just-you-wait-forty-years" turns out to have a lot to answer for.

The editorial concludes with a question: "What can be done?" Well, just lately, a Strategic Counsel poll claimed that the Conservatives looked poised to secure a majority government.

Given that other polls tend to show the Conservatives roughly neck-and-neck with the Liberal Party or even a bit behind, there is clearly an anomaly.

I suggest a scientific test of the data.