Hundreds of protesters , many of them wearing white laboratory coat , gathered yesterday across 17 Canadian city to express their annoyance at the federal government ’s anti - science insurance policy . Advocates say the campaign to counter these measure has moved into a new phase .
As a straightaway recap , the Conservative Harper governing has been wag a kind of war against certain branches of scientific enquiry , specially any work that could potentially damage its sweat to excerpt oil from the Athabasca Jack-tar sands . To that end , the governing shut out down the Experimental Lakes Area in northerly Ontario , and it downsized other enquiry region that are relevant to climate and the environment .
https://gizmodo.com/how-the-tar-sands-are-crushing-science-in-canada-468049277
Just as controversially , the Harper administration has also made it difficult for journalist to reach researchers at once , setting up a wall of bureaucratic red tape recording that block approachability . In brightness level of this , Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault launched an investigation of Conservative ’s practice earlier this year ( which is still ongoing ) .
Yesterday ’s protests , an event titled “ Stand Up for skill , ” was an crusade to show the Federal government that people are take notice . Organizers say it ’s part of a larger movement , one that will now involvethe drafting and advancement of insurance that reflect best exercise on inquiry integrity and support priorities . The event was organized by an Ottawa - base skill advocacy group calledEvidence for Democracy .
From the group ’s site :
skill matters to Canadians . Good scientific discipline , when coupled with good decisiveness - qualification , go on our water and air blank , keep us tidy , keep our solid food safe and prepares Canada for the future . Science in the public sake is of the essence for our well - being and long - term prosperity .
Many of the scientist who showed up wore gags adorned with the Conservative Party logotype over their mouths . The sorry reaper even made an coming into court , an indication of science ’s imminent destruction .
More from the Globe and Mail :
In a abbreviated statement , Greg Rickford , federal pastor of body politic for skill and technology did not acknowledge the protests but said , “ Our government is committed to science , applied science , origination , and take ideas to the marketplace . Canada is ranked number one among G7 state for its high instruction expenditure on enquiry and maturation . ”
“ We are build on these successes to improve the lineament of life of Canadians and to make jobs , growth and long - term successfulness . ”
Dr. [ Katie ] Gibbs state [ grounds for Democracy ] would consult with the Canadian enquiry community of interests and seem to other res publica in trying to craft recommended policies for scientific discipline in government . In recent years denotative scientific integrity rule have been adopt by many U.S. federal department and office , after accusations of censorship and politicization of scientific discipline during the organization of former president George W. Bush .
“ Canadian scientists are where American scientist were maybe a decade ago , ” said Michael Halpern , a Washington , D.C.-based program managing director with the Union of Concerned Scientists . “ They ’re attempt to figure out how to protect themselves from a government that ’s more and more focalize on message control over a more open treatment of the facts . ”
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