Published by Senator James Cowan on 22 April 2009
Throughout its history, Canada has been in the front ranks of scientific research and development. From the work Ernest Rutherford was doing at McGill University more than a century ago, to the achievements of the Canadian researchers who sequenced the SARS genome in just 11 weeks in 2003, and all the others too numerous to mention, one thing is clear: Canadian scientists and researchers are among the best in the world.
Unfortunately, we are now at risk of falling behind other nations. While other countries are increasing the amount they invest in science and technology, Canada’s current government is cutting back.
Many Canadian scientists are calling on the government to reverse its spending cuts and get back on course. I agree with them that science and technology must be priorities for the Government of Canada, and I have recently raised this issue in the Senate. You can read my speech from the launch of this inquiry here.