This government arrived on a promise of “fixing” our financial problems. A lot of these shortfalls have been artificially created; as an example, our healthcare sector went from breaking even to being “hundreds of millions” in deficit after the budget was massaged. That created the “crisis” that let them fire the board in charge and appoint a commissioner who has been aggressively slashing public services in order to meet the new budget. The reduction in service is driving growth in the private insurance sector.

Science is in a similar position. The shortfalls they’re talking about now are shortfalls they created last year and left to rot so they could have a crisis now.

It’s cynical and depressing.