Conservative Science and Technology critic visits Kamloops Innovation Centre

Nov 3, 2017 | 4:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — Today, Kamloops got a visit from Maxime Bernier, Member of Parliament for Beauce, Quebec and the opposition’s Critic for Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Bernier joined Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod for tours at Thompson Rivers University and the Kamloops Innovation Centre. Bernier says centres like KIC are important in connecting graduating students with the firms who are looking for skilled workers, which is important for growing the Canadian economy.

“We need private investment for being successful, for having a strong economy,” Bernier told CFJC Today. “If you don’t have the private sector to invest, you won’t have jobs for the future.”

Before the Liberals won the 2015 election, the Conservative government was criticized for cutting funding for science and discouraging government scientists from talking with the media. Bernier says he believes the role of government scientists should be to share their research with the private sector, to help entrepreneurs build their businesses.

“Most important for me is all these civil servants and scientists that are working for the government… they must be able to bring that technology to the private sector,” Bernier said.