Research community waiting anxiously while BC government reviews operations, programs and business support

British Columbia’s research community has entered an indeterminate period of uncertainty while the new Liberal government undertakes a major, multi-level review of all government activities, support programs and business subsidies. Under the leadership of premier Gordon Campbell and the newly created economic advisory council operating from his office, the government is taking prompt action to assess the nature of its parti-cipation in the provincial economy. It has also closely examined the restructuring blueprints used by the fiscally conservative regimes of Ontario, Alberta and New Zealand as models for enacting rapid change in government.

The restructuring is the most fundamental in years and is being likened to the upheaval created when the Ontario government of Mike Harris enacted its Common Sense Revolution in 1995. Like Ontario, the BC Liberals’ first order of business has been to conduct a whirlwind review of the former regime’s books, announce a larger than anticipated deficit, and freeze much program spending while further reviews are conducted. Back in 1995, Ontario ultimately cut most R&D and business related assistance, and cancelled those commitments for which it had no legal commitments (R$, May 29 & November 15/95).

And while premier Campbell has previously expressed his support for a vibrant research environment, many are still uncertain how research support will fare against higher profile challenges such as major tax cuts, health care, education, labour strife and a looming deficit.

Three levels of review are taking place simultaneously. A core review is looking at all ministries, programs and government-funded organizations, while a so-called ABC review (agencies, boards and commissions) is examining bodies such as the Science Council of BC (SCBC) and BC Hydro. Finally, a review is being conducted of all subsidies and business assistance.

In the case of forestry research, the situation is particularly serious. Government funding flows through the Forest Renewal BC (FRBC) program, which was created by the previous New Democratic Party administration in the mid-1990s. Even in opposition, the Liberal government targeted FRBC as a source of potential waste, and when it seized power it dismissed the board of directors and sacked the CEO and COO. The board has been filled on an interim basis and executive positions have been taken over by the Ministry of Forests minister and DM. A a complete review led by the DM was launched, for completion in September.

While research support constitutes a small portion of FRBC’s $600-700 million annual budget (derived from super stumpage tax levied from the forestry sector), it constitutes the majority of forestry research funding in the province, both at the university and government levels. When the freeze on research support was announced, 112 awards worth $43.6 million over five years were awaiting official sign-off. They were denied funding along with all new projects, while project renewals were allowed to go through to the end of the FY (March 31/02).

“It’s caused a lot of pain and grief in the research community that could have been avoided had the government taken a longer term view of things,” says one official who asked not to be identified. “A couple of researchers have gone public, but other big announcements buried it. The media is being flooded with stories right now.”

CONCERN REMAINS DESPITE REPRIEVE

Two weeks ago, the government relented to pressure from the university community to consider releasing some funds for projects until the end of the FY. The decision came after meetings with The University Presidents Council (TUPC) and VPs research from the major universities convinced government officials that serious harm would result from a blanket freeze.

“The TUPC expressed our collective concerns to the government through the ministries of Advanced Education and Forestry,” says Dr Indira Samarasekera, VP Research, Univ of British Columbia (UBC). “By reinstating first-year funding and working simultaneously on subsequent years, it’s taken some of the urgency out of it.”

Samarasekera says that the challenge to the Liberals is to ensure that forestry research continues regardless of the fate of FRBC, which the government says it will “either fix or scrap” following the review.

“The FRBC situation doesn’t have to effect the research going on. The Liberals made it clear that they are very committed to research and the review could be a separate process,” she says. “They could find another mechanism to fund forestry research, which has to be a high priority for this province given its importance to the economy.”

Despite the partial reprieve, however, the research community is still concerned about the long-term future of the program and an uneasy waiting game has taken hold.

SCBC administers the research portion of FRBC funding which has fluctuated from a high of more than $30 million in FY98-99 to just $6 million in FY00-01. For this year, however, funding was $17 million, and it was this money that was frozen under the review process.

Many believe the FRBC research envelope was just starting to make a significant difference in the province, bolstered by solid direction stemming from a gap analysis study conducted by FRBC last year.

Dr John McLean, associate dean of graduate studies and research at UBC’s faculty of forestry, contends FRBC’s research program should be recognized on its merits by the new government.

“I hope it will be sustained or ends up in another portfolio. My concern at this point is that the same research money we’ve managed to get be maintained,” says McLean, adding that the recent freeze has caused real problems on the ground. “Graduate students can’t be hired and then fired in this way. Our researchers have made commitments to them and in many cases the students were already in the field doing work.”

Brent Sauder, president of the BC Advanced Systems Institute, says many in the technology community are waiting to see what tact the new regime will take on S&T and research. He acknowledges that the government faces a tough fiscal reality while the pillars of the social structure have to be maintained.

“S&T and research are part of the formula for fiscal health in a new economy,” says Sauder. “We have to work with government to show how they can use technology to benefit the economy.”

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