Editorial - 24-8

The decision to exclude two innovative programs for African development from the agenda of the forthcoming G8 meeting can only be read as a failure in vision and leadership on the part of the Canadian government. The proposals for a research chairs program and a pan-African network of post-graduate math institutes were turned aside by the Canadian government, ostensibly to maintain a singular focus on its key proposal for African development — child and maternal health (see page 4).

It didn't help that the communiqué from the G8 science academies, who met in the lead-up to the G8 summit, did not explicitly endorse the two proposals, championed by Dr David Strangway and Dr Neil Turok respectively. In their defence, the academies typically frame recommendations generically, based on issues, rather that endorsing specific programs.

Including the chairs and math institutes proposals would in no way have detracted from the government's child and maternal health concept. In fact it may have helped to defuse growing criticism the proposal has drawn for refusing to include safe and accessible abortion amongst its intended objectives.

The chairs and institute network proposals are far from dead, however. Strangway intends to reintroduce the research chairs plan next year when France will host the G8 summit, and one expects Turok also has alternative plans to push his proposal forward. Canada has missed a golden opportunity to broaden the innovation mechanisms it could have brought to bear on African development.