Quote:
Originally Posted by Regorium
Wait how did you get that from what I wrote?
I mean with regards to developing new technologies, new processes, and new equipment. Joint industry projects do not create regulations or drive policy. They are purely for economic benefit.
However, you are partially correct in that some of the cuts affected areas that could drive policy. We have less data to make policy decisions, and the tradeoff is that we have better technologies to sell and use.
I don't particularly agree with the direction that Harper chose, but please don't mis-represent what he did. He did not unilaterally cut "science", he chose to invest the science money into ideas that have economic benefit, rather than basic research. That's all.
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Sorry, I misunderstood what you were suggesting.
I must admit that I wasn't very familiar with recent investments in university research. I just finished reading a rather disapproving review of the latest funding in Macleans (will link it when I am off my phone and in front of my computer.
Anyway, in my (admittedly shallow) understanding, it sounds like, at best, the Harper government has traded good, evidence-based public policy for subsidies for certain research universities (that pales in comparison to recent cuts to their actual funding) and certain industries (notably the energy industry).
Not sure that looks any better for Harper (maybe even worse).