Loss of CFIA research centre part of unfortunate anti-science trend?

OTTAWA - MP Elizabeth May is protesting the loss of a Canadian Food
Inspection Agency research centre in Saanich-Gulf Islands, the riding
she represents, a casualty of the federal government's budget cuts.  "We
are losing twelve jobs, affecting twelve families directly, but we are
also losing all of the industry that supports the centre and that will
have an even larger impact," said May.



The research centre maintains a collection which includes rare plants
that require protection such as fruit trees and English hollies. Staff
also studies plant health, specifically viruses and pests of 
grapevines, tree fruits and other crops. "Tree fruit and grapevine
health  are an important component of our wine industry in particular. 
The concern  is that the testing of viruses and imported plants at this
facility had the  benefit of the Salish Sea preventing any accidentally
released virus  from reaching the mainland."



"Taking a scientific project and simply transplanting it elsewhere often
doesn't work well.  The research scientists should have been consulted
to ensure that their projects can continue successfully," said May.



"Is this another example of the Harper Conservatives' disdain for
science?," asked May. "This decision was reached without any
consultation with the industry or scientific communities. It is
arbitrary and wrong. The top-down orders from Ottawa to close the centre
come without any plan for the protection of the knowledge base, the
research or for protection of the large area of land on which the centre
is based."





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Rebecca Harrison

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