Canadians used to have a good deal in basic research. It is the type of research that is stimulated by curiosity. It happens in university labs. It used to happen in facilities such as the National Research Council headquarters in Ottawa. Basic research happens when people want to know why, or if, or maybe. Basic research is a quest for understanding. Basic research is the cornerstone of new knowledge.
But basic research is of no interest to the Harper Conservatives in Ottawa. They want to remain ignorant. They only want applied research. Applied research is what you do for example when you want an improved braking system for automobiles. With applied research you try different materials and designs for the system you already understand. If there is no new basic research, you find no new materials that might perform better. There are no new design ideas that might help. Without the basic research, your scope of innovation has been stifled.
But what do Harper’s Conservatives care? They do not see the profit in basic research. They fail to understand how it relates to industry needs. And many people in industry are just as ignorant. Unless they get to know the people interested in research at the local universities, business people see no connection between basic and applied research. And since business is the main funding source for the Conservatives, these politicians do not waste time digging into the facts.
Luckily basic health research is not so misunderstood. Health research has a much more hand-in-glove relationship between those supplying the applied research dollars and the researchers. More than 40 years ago, the writer took over as president of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. There was no competition for the job. It was a volunteer role with a total national budget of $180,000 that first year. After seven years in the position, the budget for education, patient aid and research was over $5 million per year. By then there were new applied research projects underway across Canada and we had a world-wide network exchanging research ideas.
The only hiccup in those years was the time when the then federal Finance Minister thought he should save money on basic health research. There was a speech delivered to the parliamentary committee studying the question that was also read into Hansard. It was a speech about hope and about the role of basic research for Canadians. The Finance Minister quietly found new money for basic health research.
There is a meanness to being an ideologue and we are seeing far too much of it in Ottawa today. When a government is elected, it has a responsibility to serve the needs of all Canadians. It accepts responsibility for the hopes and dreams and future of our citizens. You would think that the bastards would at least be embarrassed.
-30-
Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to [email protected]