We don't need no stinkin' fresh water research

[Cobalt_Kid]

More idiocy from the government that brings you climate change denial, election fraud and increasing secrecy every day.

Rick Mercer Slams Harper And Tories In Water Rant (VIDEO)

Tories shut down 'groundbreaking' freshwater research station - The Globe and Mail

The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada is criticizing the fisheries for withdrawing funding from the Experimental Lake Areas program.

“A region of remote lakes has been dedicated, since the late 1960s, to whole-lake ecosystem research. It has been the site of groundbreaking studies into the effects of pollutants, acid rain, freshwater aquaculture, and hydroelectric dams on freshwater ecosystems,” the union said in a news release.

John Smol, a professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, said closing the facility is a “travesty, not just for Canada but for the rest of the world.”

He said data from experiments carried out at the lakes “ were critical in showing we can’t have phosphates in detergents and that acid rain causes marked ecosystem changes.”

David Schindler, a professor at the University of Alberta, said employees were told that the facility will be closed as of March, 2013, and that universities, not governments, should be doing this kind of science. But he argued this type of large-scale, long-term research requires government support.

“I think we have a government that considers science an inconvenience.”

I think we have a party in government led by a born again Christian who thinks Jesus is going to come and save us if things get bad enough.

There's something seriously wrong with a government that is so against the free exchange of all sorts of information which can have significant impact on all lour lives.

Tories take heat in House on science policy, closing research station - The Globe and Mail

But opposition MPs were quick to point out that Canada spends less than other major developed countries, including the United States, on research and development as a percentage of GDP. And Kennedy Stewart, the New Democrat who represents Burnaby, B.C., said Statistics Canada figures show the amount spent by the government on science and technology has dropped by more than a billion dollars annually since 2010-11 – data that was disputed by Mr. Goodyear.

In a bid to embarrass the Conservatives, Mr. Stewart asked the House to affirm its commitment to the open exchange of scientific information and the maintenance of scientific capacity across Canada, including the funding of the ELA. Government MPs voted against Mr. Stewart’s motion, sending it down to defeat.

But the criticism of the government’s approach to science is mounting – and much of it has come from scientists and scientific journals in other countries.

In one recent incident, American oceanographer Andreas Muenchow, who was working with Canadian government scientists on Arctic research, refused to sign an agreement stating that he would not release any of his data without the government’s permission.

The government was also slammed last year for sending its media monitors to keep an eye on Canadian scientists attending international conferences. Mr. Kennedy told the House: “There is a chill being created in Canada.”

So while we have a new Office of Religious Freedom in Canada, we're decreasing funding on the sciences.

4 questions about Canada?s new Office of Religious Freedom - Canada - CBC News

It looks like some of the worst warnings about Harper being in power are starting to come true, instead of a reason based government, we have a faith based one.

And at a time when the climate is in fact going through profound changes that even the most accomplished liar couldn't hide, the recent budget cuts funding to Environment Canada.

Federal budget cuts undermine Environment Canada’s mandate to enforce clean air regulations: emails | canada.com

OTTAWA — The Harper government’s budget cuts to scientific research at Environment Canada have compromised the department’s capacity to crack down on cancer-linked pollution and its mandate to enforce clean air regulations, say enforcement officers in a collection of internal emails obtained by Postmedia News.

As the government continues consultations with the oil and gas industry on regulations to address rising heat-trapping greenhouse gases, the emails, exchanged between Environment Canada enforcement officers from various regions including Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver, said that the government was eliminating the only Canadian group capable of writing and supervising credible testing methods for new and existing rules to impose limits on pollution from smokestacks.

One officer from Montreal noted that some recently adopted regulations controlling the release of a chromium compound — that Environment Canada says is “known to cause cancer in humans” — could not be enforced without support from the group of scientists, which was disbanded by the federal government following Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s 2012 budget.

“Air pollution is not going to vanish and it is quite reasonable to believe that other substances released in the atmosphere might become regulated,” wrote environmental enforcement officer Vincent Pretty, in an email sent on Dec. 6, 2012. “Retaining the service of a trained stack test technician and an experienced air emission scientist is probably a very strategic choice for enforcement or for the department to make now given our current and future mandate to enforce clean air regulations.”

It really doesn't sound like the conservatives are working for the people of this country.

Scientists mourn government's cuts to research | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

OTTAWA - Hundreds of scientists left their beakers and test tubes in the lab Tuesday to protest cuts to research programs.

"We are here today to commemorate the untimely death of evidence in Canada," said Katie Gibbs, a PhD student at the University of Ottawa who organized the rally. "After a long battle with the current federal government, evidence has suffered its final blow. Between sweeping cuts to federal science programs, legislative changes in Bill C-38 and the muzzling of scientists, the injuries to evidence have been overwhelming."

Scientists - many of whom were already in Ottawa for the International Congress on Evolutionary Biology conference - were joined by public sector unions, NGOs and opposition MPs as they marched from Ottawa's Convention Centre to Parliament Hill wearing lab coats and carrying protest signs.

Gary Goodyear, the minister of state for science and technology, said the government "has made historic investments in science, technology and research to create jobs, grow our economy and improve quality of life for Canadians."

At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, Prime Minister Stephen Harper explained the government simply wasn't getting enough bang for its buck from several research projects, but that it would continue to make "key investments in science and technology necessary to sustain a modern competitive economy."

Harper doesn't seem to care at all for facts, if he can't use information for political purposes it has no value to him. Of course Canadians get great value from scientific research that can improve the world they live in.

By concealing the truth our government puts all of us at risk, especially as changes in the world around us increase from human generated impacts. This is one of the most irresponsible governments in the history of Canada.

The government is trying not to know facts that are inconvenient," says Cranbrook, a respirologist at the Asthma and Airway Centre at Toronto's University Health Network. "And they are closing the institutions that produce them."

It's not just what's being done, it's how it's being done, in the dark as much as possible. This is the way criminals work to avoid the consequences of their actions.

As dismantling begins, shuttering of research station called a 'travesty' - The Globe and Mail

Roberto Quinlan, a biology professor at York University in Toronto, said he was even more surprised to learn that the scrapping of ELA buildings was being done without the knowledge of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Winnipeg-based United Nations think tank that is the only group known to be discussing the possible takeover of the facility.

“I have confirmed that IISD knew nothing about the work that is being done on these cabins,” said Dr. Quinlan, who is on the executive of the Society of Canadian Limnologists – Canada’s aquatic research community. “If the IISD doesn’t know that this is going on, then this brings into serious doubt the government’s sincerity to actually transfer the facility over to another operator.”

 

[Cliffy]

Oh, the conservative apologists are going to be all over you on this one.
One, two, three... cue them up!

 

[CDNBear]

Oh, the conservative apologists are going to be all over you on this one.
One, two, three... cue them up!

You know what's funny?

People (Cons, Libs, Hippies) usually just get all over Colbalt for being an extremist nutter.

 

[tay]

Scientists, citizen groups and opposition politicians have pressured the Canadian government to keep the ELA open. The research facility has been the site of major research on contaminants that wind up in rivers and lakes — including acid rain, mercury, phosphorus and hormone disruptors such as the synthetic oestrogen of birth control pills. But without a firm deal in place, the DFO is keeping scientists from using the site, its residences and laboratories.

Over the winter, Metcalfe’s team spent tens of thousands of dollars buying equipment and moving it to the remote site to prepare for the summer program. In mid-March, Metcalfe contacted DFO to find out whether the facility would be open after 31 March, and was told “no.”

Maggie Xenopoulos, an aquatic biologist at Trent University and collaborator on the nanosilver project, emailed an appeal to Dave Gillis, the DFO director in charge of ELA’s future, and asked access. She has not received a response and DFO did not return Nature’s request for comment. “Our experiment isn’t amenable to taking a year off. We have to do the science as correctly as possible, otherwise we’re wasting money,” says Xenopoulos.

more

Canada shutters research lakes facilities : Nature News Blog

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

Maybe we should all get together at Bible camp and pray our way to a cleaner safer world, as Harper would seem to prefer.

This continuing attack on science and facts based policy implementation is anti-democratic and anti-social, all Canadians are going to be paying the price for this.

 

[Goober]

Cobalt- So young- I hear you are still carrying your baby fat. Is that correct?

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

I'm turning 50 soon btw and am much too old to be playing abusive mind-games with people who probably only want to avoid debating the facts hence the personal attacks, so if I don't respond to peoples posts in the future, it's because I've taken the sane choice of putting them on ignore.

 

[DaSleeper]

Muffin Songs - Kum Ba Yah (Kumbaya My Lord) | nursery rhymes & children songs with lyrics | muffin songs - YouTube

 

[Goober]

I'm turning 50 soon btw and am much too old to be playing abusive mind-games with people who probably only want to avoid debating the facts hence the personal attacks, so if I don't respond to peoples posts in the future, it's because I've taken the sane choice of putting them on ignore.

It was not abusive- i thought it was funny. Your OP is one large cut and paste. Please Note -this topic was covered when it was announced. You seem to be a tad late with the news.

 

[Walter]

Is there a benefit that this program has produced? Someone got a link?

 

[captain morgan]

Is there a benefit that this program has produced? Someone got a link?

It keeps a handful of people employed

 

[Tonington]

Is there a benefit that this program has produced? Someone got a link?

Clean water and improved management of fresh water resources.
http://www.experimentallakesarea.ca/images/ELA%20Publications%20Listing.pdf

 

[petros]

There are plenty of reason to close.

How many of the studies are now obsolete, redundant or data obtainable from other sources doing similar research on somebody else's dime? It doesn't mean reserch isn't being done else where in Canada and will all grind to a halt.

Looking at some of the testing done using various toxins and heavy metal compounds, they (the lakes) could very well be spent.

Money could be spent on other higher priority projects that have been backburnered until funding becomes available.

Don't be so glum when there are background facts unexplored.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

There are plenty of reason to close.

How many of the studies are now obsolete, redundant or data obtainable from other sources doing similar research on somebody else's dime? It doesn't mean reserch isn't being done else where in Canada and will all grind to a halt.

Looking at some of the testing done using various toxins and heavy metal compounds, they (the lakes) could very well be spent.

Money could be spent on other higher priority projects that have been backburnered until funding becomes available.

Don't be so glum when there are background facts unexplored.

What has a higher priority than a healthy environment?

Trying to treat science as some accessory to commerce ignores its vast benefit to society as a whole. Closing a world renowned research program for political reasons is entirely consistent with conservative policy in Canada. If there's any potential for embarrassing information to "leak" out the source is plugged. Even if it means putting future interests of all Canadians at risk.

 

[Walter]

Closing a world renowned research program

Now it's world-renowned. Got a link to demonstrate this claim.

 

[L Gilbert]

How many of the studies are now obsolete, redundant or data obtainable from other sources doing similar research on somebody else's dime? It doesn't mean reserch isn't being done else where in Canada and will all grind to a halt.

Where?

Looking at some of the testing done using various toxins and heavy metal compounds, they (the lakes) could very well be spent.

Are they, though?

Money could be spent on other higher priority projects that have been backburnered until funding becomes available.

Like which ones?

Just curious.

Now it's world-renowned. Got a link to demonstrate this claim.

Experimental Lakes Area - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The project may simply be turned over to another sponsor, though. Best guess seems to be the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

 

[Cobalt_Kid]

How are any groups going to take over this important research program if the Harper conservatives won't let them?

Op-Ed: Canada to close world-renowned Experimental Lakes Area research

The Harper government is achieving global notoriety for its environmental policies. Even Al Jazeera has taken note of the Harper government decision to defund the world-renowned Experimental Lakes Area.

The Experimental Lakes Area provides information about climate change, acid rain, and industrial pollution. No doubt this is all information that the Harper government would rather ignore. A video about the center can be found here. produced by AL Jazeera.

The Canadian government was hoping that others would take over by the end of March this year but no operators have come forward.

A group of researchers from Trent University in Peterborough Ontario who are already funded was told that they are barred from the site in northwestern Ontario. They had started work last summer and spent thousands of dollars on an approved trip to one site as recently as last month.

This is politics taken to ridiculous lengths, we're not even being given access to important facts on the health of the environment at a crucial time.

 

[L Gilbert]

Do you know what the reason behind why the Harpy gov't wouldn't allow Trent U. researchers to take over?
Personally I think closing it is a stupid idea, but on the other hand, I won't leap to conclusions without having much info. And I know Harpy's gov't APPEARS to be unconcerned with environmental issues nut I don't think it does stuff like this on flights of momentary whims either.

 

[tay]

In a stunning move the Ministry of Environment (MOE) agreed to a settlement which would weaken the conditions and potentially allow for Nestlé to pump at its maximum rate during droughts. We believe this puts Nestlé's profit-making interests before the water rights of the people of Wellington County.

Enough is enough. The Council of Canadians and Wellington Water Watchers, a Guelph-based water advocacy group – with legal representation from Ecojustice – have won official party status to bring a public interest perspective in Nestlé's appeal..

Ontario is neglecting its duty to protect communities' water sources by allowing Nestlé to extract massive amounts of groundwater for its water bottling business, even during drought conditions.................



Nestlé's Chairman and former CEO once infamously declared that "access to water should not be a public right." And now his company is putting into practice its belief that every resource should be commodied and sold off. Nestlé is sucking up water from a Canadian watershed during drought conditions -- to bottle and sell it off.

Nestlé has won a permit to drain an Ontario aquifer whenever it likes. Meanwhile, the surrounding communities which rely on the aquifer have by-laws to restrict their access to their own water during dry conditions in the summer. This just isn’t right, and Maude Barlow, the Council of Canadians, and Ecojustice are fighting back against Nestlé and the Ontario government office that handed out its permit. It shouldn’t take a legal proceeding to force Nestlé to do the right thing. Let’s tell Nestlé that a community’s access to its own water supply is more important than any company's profits.

Tell Nestlé: Stop bottling Ontario’s water source during drought conditions.

Currently, Nestlé has a permit through 2017 to take about 1.1 million litres of water per day from Hillsburgh, Ontario for its bottling operations in nearby Aberfoyle -- even during drought conditions while there are by-laws on water use for households. A number of groups are fighting back. “Ontario must prioritize communities’ right to water above a private company’s thirst for profit,” says Maude Barlow, National Chairperson for the Council of Canadians.



Nestlé is sucking water from an Ontario watershed during drought conditions | SumOfUs



Nestlé


The Privatization of Water: Nestlé Denies that Water is a Fundamental Human Right | Global Research