With the federal election looming, it's time to examine all of the party platforms to see where they stand on science and research. I recently reviewed all the party platforms, except for the Bloc Quebecois, which strikes me as an oxymoron in federal politics.

THE NEW DEMOCRATS

This party emerged from the wilderness, re-energized with a dynamic new leader and a real opportunity to hold the balance of power. Given that most academics tend to be somewhat left of centre, and that many countries that NDP supporters regard as role models (Sweden, Denmark, Finland) have displayed a strong propensity for supporting science and technology, I expected a strong emphasis in their platform on research and innovation.

I was shocked to discover this area garnered almost no attention from the NDP. Aside from the homilies ("It's time to build the country we want by investing in the brains that will build it"), NDP policies on research and innovation seem haphazard and unfocused: a new Crown corporation focusing on conservation and renewable energy that will establish "innovation centres'" in solar, tidal, wind and geothermal power across Canada; tax incentives and funding for fuel technology for cars; a royal commission to strengthen public research and provide innovative drugs to Canadians.

Perhaps the most interesting point is that the NDP's policies, far from supporting research at universities, specifically calls for the creation of large, bureaucratic institutions oriented toward the party's principal concerns.

In fact, the only time university research is specifically addressed is when they promise to "increase funding for research to halt the privatization of research on campus, allowing science to be examined on its merits, not vetted by the funding corporation."

This is clearly a sop to allay the concerns of people in academe who are worried about "corporatization of universities" -- a tricky and complicated subject that is poorly addressed by woolly fear-mongering of "the funding corporation."

THE GREENS

The Green Party, at least, does have a specific section in their platform for science and technology (which, interestingly, they distinguish from energy). We are informed "The Green party supports technologies that make our lives more fulfilling, interesting and sustainable, while minimizing risks to our health, our security and the fabric of society."

I don't imagine this statement would have too many detractors among our citizenry, but it is interesting to note the Green party also vows to "fund research programs based on input from citizens, academic panels and government-sponsored round tables."

In my view, the last thing the research community needs is funding decisions based on input from citizens and government-sponsored round tables, rather than primarily a scientific peer-review process, as is now the case.

So much for the Green party.

THE CONSERVATIVES

The Conservatives do not say terribly much about research and innovation, other than claiming they will "invest in research and development, especially medical and scientific research."

While they acknowledge that "the generation and development of new scientific knowledge is pivotal to the growth and prosperity of the Canadian economy," their solution is to encourage it through elimination of various taxes and "a competitive intellectual property regime," which is simplistic at best.

While also pledging to "uphold funding" of research through the granting councils, they take a moment to ensure they will clean up these very councils to "enhance transparency and accountability" and ensure that grant recipients are chosen on merit, rather than for political or regional considerations.

This is all rather disappointing, as it demonstrates quite clearly that they have no real sense of how scientific granting councils actually work. Even more confusingly, after trying to distance themselves from the Liberals, the Conservatives add, using the same hand-waving rhetoric, that they will partner with universities and the private sector to "promote the growth of innovation clusters across Canada."

It is amusing to learn the Conservatives will promote the growth of ''innovation clusters" while simultaneously ensuring that scientific funding will not occur from political or regional considerations.

THE LIBERALS

And what of the Liberals? This is perhaps the most inexplicable story of all, for surely the Liberal government's track record of supporting research and innovation is one of their most impressive legacies of the last 10 years.

From the Canada Research Chair Program to increased support for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and other granting councils, from the Millennium Scholarships to the creation of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Genome Canada and other programs, the Liberal government has repeatedly showed its commitment to research, going a considerable distance towards rebranding Canada as a dynamic region of innovation internationally.

But that was, of course, the "old" Liberals. The Paul Martin Liberals are otherwise occupied by cleaning up the cronyism from the ancien régime, promoting a new deal for cities and making ambitious commitments to reduced waiting times for health care, among other things.

The old Liberal promise to move Canada from 15th spot in R and D spending to the top five is yesterday's news.

Now it is all about commercialization: "With the foundations for innovation now well established, the next step is to turn more of Canadians' bright ideas into dynamic businesses, great jobs and growing export earnings."

The new Liberals want to do something far sexier than merely enabling Canada to achieve its research potential. They want government to be the agent that turns research into great technology. The only problem is that government can't do that. Governments don't create technology and they don't create entrepreneurs. They can only create and support a strong, well-funded research environment that will attract the top international talent to naturally enable that to happen.

Having gone so far down the road to establish this very climate through their policies, the Liberals, more than anyone, should know that. Sadly, they have turned their back on one of their greatest accomplishments of their years in office and now do not look appreciably different than the other political parties in this area.

The prospects for scientific research in this country grow dimmer by the moment.