Tories appoint Manning to science advisory panel

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/458917

The Conservative government has appointed Preston Manning, the founder of the Reform party, to the federal science advisory panel.

Manning will join the Council of Canadian Academies that provides an "independent, expert assessment of the science underlying pressing issues and matters of public interest."

The group is supposed to "build public confidence that policy and regulatory decisions are being based on broadly accepted scientific knowledge and evidence."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper came under sharp criticism from the scientific community last winter when he phased out the position of national science adviser.

Now the questions that come to mind is how qualified is Preston Manning for this position? I mean is science even one of his strong points? Most politicians would usually have strengths in areas outside of science.

I'm not too sure who this Preston Manning is but I really don't see the relevance or how it would help out Canada in any possible way.

Can someone shed some light ont this?

-SW