Squirrel Love

Of all the billions of dollars of spending on the Ontario provincial budget, the Tories (both the party and its leader John) singled out a $150,000 over three years study on squirrels for ridicule. The reason is simple—they can deduce it to a ‘make-funable’ headline. The study is on the impact of environmental changes has on the reproductive habits of flying squirrels. This is a useful study in understanding the environmental impact of developments. The only problem with it is when Mr. Tory called it “squirrel sex study.’ Sure, in order of squirrels to reproduce, they must have sex, since they do not have the benefit of artificial insemination or cloning technology. If, say, noise can make squirrel fidget, there will be no more squirrels in noise areas. And if that can happen to squirrels, it can happen to other animals also. This is not a study that will change the world, but it is useful and does not cost the world. There got to be some other waste in the budget that has few more zeros in the numbers for Mr. Tory to complain about. If a $50,000 a year grant is all he can find, I am very happy for the citizens of Ontario