EDITORIAL: Science? Who needs science?
These are tough times and tough times demand that tough decisions be made.
Money is scarce and your provincial government is tasked with determining where every cent will be spent.
Some programs will be cut, much to the chagrin of many, but that is why we elected people who we trust have their priorities in order.
So, it must give the great unwashed much comfort to learn that its elected representatives have come to the esteemed conclusion that it is far more important to give senior staff at Community Living B.C. bonuses that were supposed to be scrapped than to maintain funding for Science World’s wonderful touring program that brought the magic of science to kids throughout B.C.
It must give the great unwashed much comfort to learn that its elected representatives are wise enough to realize keeping a bloated public-relations staff, along with the $130,000 salary paid to former TV news reader Pamela Martin for setting up meetings, is money better spent than being wasted on guiding children into science-based careers that can truly change the world.
Yes, Christy Clark’s B.C. Liberal government has decided to withdraw its $1-million grant that helped Science World being the world of science to children far from Vancouver.
Seven months ago, Clark spoke of how important the Science World program was: “It’s important we support Science World and their programs that foster the pursuit of science in our children and throughout the community, so we have bright young people to fill those jobs when they become available.”
A year ago this month, Moira Stilwell, then-parliamentary secretary for industry, research and innovation, said: “Getting young people excited about sciences and technology is not a task that ends because the Year of Science is over,”
“This legacy funding will ensure that we continue to educate our young people about the tremendous opportunities that the sciences provide . . .”
With such dubious decisions, is there really any surprise the B.C. Liberals are on a path to oblivion?
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