S&T out in the cold in latest BC Budget

The British Columbia government’s emphasis on business-led solutions for virtually all aspects of economic activity guaranteed that its latest Budget would be devoid of any substantive S&T initiatives. The S&T-lite Budget comes on the heels of a major Cabinet shuffle and the dismantling of the ministry that previously housed the province’s S&T branch.

As of January 26, the Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise (MCSE) has been replaced by the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development (SMED). Former MCSE minister Rick Thorpe was moved to the Ministry of Provincial Revenue while the inaugural SMED minister is John Les, a first-time MLA and former mayor of Chilliwack.

Instead of a dedicated S&T division, the portfolio presumably falls under one of SMED’s core business areas, entitled Enhancing Economic Development Throughout British Columbia.

That business line received $19.1 million in the Budget, although it’s not clear what S&T activities have survived from the old MCSE. Sources tell RE$EARCH MONEY that discussions on the contents of a future S&T portfolio are currently being discussed behind closed government doors. It’s likely that any S&T activity in which the government participates will be handled through an arm’s length organization, like the recently formed Leading Edge BC.

Leading Edge BC has received a commitment of $8.6 million over three years, with $2.9 allocated for FY04-05. Its mandate is to encouraging incoming invest-ment to the province as well as the re-location of businesses to the province. It does not have a funding function and is viewed as a lever for the premier, much like the Premier's Technology Council.

“Leading Edge BC is the public face of technology and innovation in BC at the moment,” says one insider. “That means promotion and external marketing, and Leading Edge BC is the key mechanism.”

In the Budget, the government did announce that it would extend the province’s tax credit for private sector scientific research and experimental development. It did not contain any mention of the fate of the Science Council of British Columbia (now re-named the Innovation and Science Council of BC).

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