Echoes of Walkerton in Environment Canada cuts

Prof. Thomas Duck writes:

The cost of the Walkerton tragedy was estimated at the commission to be between $64.5 million and $155 million. It remains to be seen what the cuts to Environment Canada will ultimately cost us — both financially and in human terms.

Read the full piece in the Toronto Star to appreciate the damage the Harper government is doing to the public by their attack on environmental science.

Echoes of Walkerton in Environment Canada cuts | Toronto Star

Duck sets the Record Straight on Canadian Arctic Science

Disturbing words from Canada’s Enviroment Minister Peter Kent. This past week he wrote a letter to the Victoria Times-Colonist mis-representing several important facts about the Harper Government’s brutal, targeted cuts on Arctic science. Prof. T. Duck (Dalhousie University) replies to Kent’s misrepresentation of the facts in a letter to iPolitics.ca, concluding:

… point-by-point Kent’s claims about PEARL are factually incorrect. Many other claims in the Times-Colonist letter have been so profoundly discredited that it is no small wonder he had the gall to utter them. This past week, in response to criticism he had “misled Canadians”, Kent told an opposition MP that she should talk to “better informed scientists”. What we really need is a better-informed Minister.

I encourage you to read the rest of Prof. Duck’s letter on iPolitics.ca. 

Canada dropping the #ozone ball, scientists warn - Politics - CBC News

via cbc.ca

The CBC has picked up the AGU EOS article. I noticed the first commenter saying if EC thinks it is important they should cut something else. I would ask what would you do if your income was suddenly cut in half? Cut eating so you could heat your home? Live in a tent and eat better? Don't natter on about EC and priorities. Unless you think they should eliminate providing weather forecasts in Ontario to pay for their ozone program! Or do you believe they should outsource forecasting to another met service?

Ouch! From @theAGU #EOS: #EnvironmentCanada Cuts Threaten the Future of Science & International Agreements #ozone

Top American Atmospheric Scientists conclude:

We are concerned, in light of the Environment Canada budget cuts, that the international community may no longer be able to rely on the exceptional efforts and past leadership role provided by Canada for Arctic research. 

The Harper government is turning it's back on Canada's "True North" stewardship by implementing draconian cuts to ozone science that will not allow Canada to fulfil several international treaties it is party to including the Montreal protocol (how ironic!) and the US-Canada Air Quality agreement.

Download the article from AGU's EOS Transactions Newsletter here (pdf).