Funding for energy S&T strategy withdrawn

The Harper government has withdrawn $200 million slated for the development and implementation of a long-awaited sustainable energy science and technology strategy. The funding was committed by the previous Liberal government in Budget 2005 to Natural Resources Canada, which was tasked with striking an expert panel to provide advise on priorities and developing the strategy by the end of 2006 (R$, March 9 & March 30/05).

"That $200 million is no longer available to us," says Graham Campbell, DG of NRCan's Office of Energy Research and Development, which is leading the strategy's development. "We're in the throws of working through that."

It's uncertain whether the Harper administration will replace the original $200 million in whole or in part. The strategy is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2007.

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